Libby, it depends on who is getting polled. Kaiser is located in Menlo Park, Ca. Did they poll only California citizens or take a representative sampling from across the US? My guess is that if they polled the red states, their numbers would have looked a lot different and they might have not even posted it.

The survey was designed and analyzed by public opinion researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and was conducted from Jan. 14-21 among a nationally representative random digit dial telephone sample of 1,506 adults ages 18 and older.

Libby,
Doesn’t really matter anyhow. Remember when the polls were showing President Obama leading Romeny in the polls prior to the election and Faux News, Drudge, and the those who have been Hannitized saying the polls don’t matter?

Besides, change is always resisted in the beginning. Let’s see what these polls say in 10 years from now. This is a goal for long term gain, not short term.

If we make it 10 years from now. By then the socialist policies put in place by the Obama administration and our staggering debt should have bankrupted ther country by then. Oh, I forgot. The left doesn’t understand basic finance and economics and has no clue as to the train wreck we are speeding to. $17+ trillion in debt and counting. $80+ trillion in unfunded liabilities. The left never talks about how to deal with these issues. Heck, the left doesn’t even acknowledge they exist. The buffoon in charge is stupid enough to say we don’t have a debt problem, that Obamacare will only add to.

Roll back the Reagan tax cuts (remember, the guy who turned us into a debtor nation?), reduce the Pentagon’s budget for items quite frankly the military and President are not asking for, legalize marijuana (the war on drugs is over, drugs won), get rid of corporate welfare, reduce foreign aid, and we’ll be well on our way of fixing that debt issue you are so concerned with when a D is in office. I didn’t hear these barks when an R was in office. It’s been both parties responsible for it, by the way. Further, would you rather borrow money when the bank rates are low or high? Just curious. And, no, unless your family has it’s own military and power of the world’s currency, the Federal budget doesn’t work like your household budget. Good talking point, though. It strikes the masses who aren’t well versed pretty well. Conservatives are excellent at delivering a message without really caring if it’s accurate or not. Just ask Sean Hannity and Frank Luntz. Frank has a book called, “Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear” – hey, finally Frank is being honest!

Thanks for the response Captain. it shows your total ignorance of the budget, financed and economics. You could tax the “rich” 100% and we’d still have huge deficits. Although taxing the “rich” 100% would also sink the economy. The Pentagon budget of just over $600 billion if eliminated doesn’t clear the $1,000 trillion annual deficit. You want to cut the military budget 100%? Really? Foreign aid? A few billion a year? Yeah, that will help. And your God Obama, is a huge proponent of foreign aid. He wants a “world community” where we share much more of our wealth with the rest of the world.

“Further, would you rather borrow money when the bank rates are low or high? Just curious.”

Just showing more of your ignorance. We borrow money all of the time. Even the Bill Clinton “surpluses” were not really surpluses. We were building up huge unfunded liabilities by stealing from Social Security and Medicare to the tune now of over $80 trillion. A concept your mind is obviously too small to understand. The President’s Simpson/Bowles committee addressed all of this. A commission set up by the President which he held off until after the 2010 elections. His own bipartisan commission’s report which he promptly ignored after it’s release. Just what color is the sky in your world? How much finance, economic background do you have. Even less than the chump in charge?

Captain’s Log:
Day 3,297 – Still searching for intelligent life on Planet Fox News. These beings seem to lack reading comprehension and tend to jump to illogical conclusions. They pretend to know who I am and others they have never met. Believe in wild conspiracies which frankly, are sourceless and fail to be founded in reality. Unfortunately, this behavior shows signs of being contagious, spread by 8 second sound bites touted by their media’s talking heads. This is a sad state, this planet Fox News. I will continue to push on in my studies. The outlook is bleak at best. Some of them even pretend to follow the teachings of Christ but yet, cannot practice the very concept of, “I am my brother’s keeper.” They worship green false idols called “dollars”. Odd folks indeed. I don’t know that we’ll ever be able to help them. It’s as though they feel they have all of the answers already, even when science can prove otherwise. Yes, I do believe I have discovered the Land of The Lost.

February 4, 2014 at 4:27 pm

bobsays:

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Reagan did not turn us into a debtor nation. Who determines the spending? Congress. Who was in congress? Democrats.

As a side comment: Reagan’s tax rates being rolled back would go back to a 70 top rate, or do you not know history? The 39.6 rate of Clinton was still almost half that of the time period before. Competitive tax rates work for the economy. Clinton’s rates were not high. They were just higher than Bush W, and the stupid difference points were merely for class warfare.

The fact that you would call him a bad president, despite the recessions nearly being identical between him and Obama is insane.

Obama’s labor participation rate is still going down, which is the only reason the unemployment rate is going down. Labor participation rate has a direct effect on unemployment rate in a way that if it is going down at the same time, IT’S BAD. Not just semi bad, VERY bad.

Regan’s labor participation rate went UP dramatically, AND unemployment went down. More people working = more taxes. More taxes forcing a lower labor participation rate by several percentage points = less revenues. Tax rates are not the only means to more revenues. Besides which: Income is better than government revenues. Any dollar touched by the government cannot become income. End of story.

And stop with the assault on Faux news. You look like a kid throwing a tantrum. You’re wrong about fox news. Get over it.

Who (or what) calculates the “labor participation rate”? Is it estimated? I keep hearing this phrase, but I don’t know if it is an accurate representation of the labor market.

February 6, 2014 at 3:59 pm

bobsays:

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KY JW:

It is a number that cannot be manipulated (unlike the unemployment rate)

It is the total amount of the US population in the workforce.

So let’s say 70% of Americans have jobs, 15% are in school, and 15% are retired. Do you see the breakout?

So when the labor participation rate goes down, 1%, 1% of the population has stopped working. The unemployment rate is the amount of people who are getting unemployment checks. It really doesn’t show how many people are working vs not. The reason democrats use a combo, is they try to say that less people are collecting unemployment checks, therefore less people must need work. That’s not true, especially if the labor participation rate is going down still. With Reagan more people got into the workforce, and less people were receiving unemployment checks. With Obama, more people are getting out, and unemployment checks are going down. It’s a bad combo. Most likely, those unemployment numbers are dropping from people becoming no longer eligible, or alternatively, giving up on looking for a job.

The good thing about a higher labor participation rate is this literally translates to more of the population contributing to taxes.

A lucrative labor participation rate is more desirable than higher taxes.

February 6, 2014 at 4:19 pm

Libbysays:

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Bob – her question was not what is the labor participation rate, but who does this and how? How can anyone know at any given time how many people are working and how many aren’t? Can you answer?

February 6, 2014 at 5:15 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

Second baby is keeping me up, I thought she said “how” is it estimated and who.

I didn’t direct who and just went to how as I thought this was more of a “how” than a who.

I’ll get to it. Busy currently.

February 6, 2014 at 6:20 pm

FFAsays:

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That is a good explanation Bob.. I know it didnt answer JW question, but that is good info.

February 7, 2014 at 9:48 am

KY jwsays:

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I didn’t know the “how” either, so bob’s explanation is still helpful. Thanks.

February 4, 2014 at 4:34 pm

bobsays:

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Also Planet:

Republicans were in congress during 1995 – 2006, presiding over the longest surplus in nation history.

Bill Clinton forced a government shut down during that time frame. He publicly spoke about why: The republicans were too concerned with cutting the deficit. He wasn’t.

And we now have Obama saying in public that he will pass executive orders to by pass the republicans. The democrats are everything you say the republicans are.

They are obstructing, passing agendas no one wants, they passed a healthcare law you admitted isn’t good, because they wanted to what? Show us how much it sucked so we would get single payer? That’s what you have implied, and that’s who you want in congress? That’s who you say is playing nice and it’s the republicans causing the disconnect in congress?

Do you have any idea how hardball that is? The republicans aren’t crying like babies refusing to do anything. They are crying like babies while you egg on the bully that is beating them up, and enjoy it like an idiotic guy watching a dog fight.

Bob, we don’t call him Planet from another Planet for nothing. Did you notice his reference to Star Trek? We are all hoping Scotty beams him up to Mars soon so we don’t have to listen to his goofy comments.

February 4, 2014 at 7:23 pm

bobsays:

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I did. It’s like he’s stuck in Matt Damon’s head or something…I think that he should have either been a star or Matt Damon’s best friend.

Talking with peppy ideals that sound great is fun, but all too often it just is poorly researched.

February 4, 2014 at 7:35 pm

bobsays:

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Funny side comment:

Did you notice I just hurled an insult at republicans?

Crying like babies and not getting their point across as to what’s going on is a real problem for them.

I go after the left more here, but that’s because of the imbalance here from people like planet, celitica, libby, etc. If those same people were to say, man, that Boehner guy is the best! I would be throwing out what his flaws were.

I do not like allegiances, or the frat team “crush faux news!” “crush maddow” mentality.

I know a woman who went through hell in a conservative extreme town. It wasn’t in Texas. It was in Illinois. They were democrats. But they were conservative. Democrats can also be religious zealots, but all too often, are focused on “the other guys” who are much worse than themselves. This creates a “get them and solve their issues” mentality. Deal with your own devils. My motto is solve your own first. Point out the issues in your own first.

February 7, 2014 at 9:49 am

KY jwsays:

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I know who Matt Damon is, but I don’t get the reference in bob’s post. Anyone care to explain?

February 7, 2014 at 11:47 am

FFAsays:

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Reference was he had two babies keeping him up late. Speaking from experience, sometimes that results in jibberish. Makes sense in my head, but only my head.

Hope you had a better night sleep this time around Bob.

February 7, 2014 at 12:23 pm

bobsays:

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Sadly the jealousy of Zoe to Caiden has been almost more than baby number 2 (Caiden)

Though it was a bit relevant.

Planet always attempts movie equivalent catch phrases, he thinks it makes his point better, or that it makes him better, I can’t quite tell.

Also, most Captains political beliefs line up exactly with major stars.

February 7, 2014 at 12:39 pm

KY jwsays:

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Okay. I don’t pay attention to what actors & actresses say outside of their acting. In fact, most pop culture references will go over my head. I’ll only ask when I can’t make heads or tails out of it. ;)

February 7, 2014 at 1:12 pm

bobsays:

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KY JW:

It’s my mom. She’s obsessed with the whole star venue.

I had an earful when she heard that Brad Pitt’s Republican mom was insulted by Brad Pitt’s wife (Angelina Jolee?)

January 31, 2014 at 2:16 pm

Agentsays:

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Why wait 10 years Planet? Let’s see what the polls say in mid summer when the Groups start getting their cancellations and huge rate increases continue. What happens when the Millenials keep avoiding enrolling and what the impact of that will be and how the rates for all will skyrocket. Aetna & Humana are threatening to pull out because the pool of insureds is tilted and all that are enrolling are the PreX and people that lost their coverage. The number of people with Healthcare policies has actually declined if the 6 million that lost coverage is included. Only 11% of the truly uninsured has enrolled so far.

Bob, Republicans, especially RINO’s are almost as responsible for the mess we have in this country as the Democrats. The go along to get along crowd like McCain & Graham should be sent packing with 100% of the Democrats who have pushed through all this Progressive nonsense that is wrecking the country. Have you noticed all the retirements being announced over the past several weeks? These people don’t want to face the music in the town halls next summer. People are very angry at them. They will just go enjoy their retirement packages and their cushy campaign war chests they don’t have to give back.

I agree Bob. Why would Democrats be mad at Democrats? They are mostly cut from the same mold. The Blue Dogs who were slightly more Conservative were voted out when they voted for Obamacare back in 2010. Democrats running for re-election are in the pits. Several are retiring rather than face the music in the mid-terms. We do have quite a battle going on between the old head regulars in the Republican Party and the new blood of Lee, Paul, Cruz, Rubio. They will eventually get it sorted out.

February 7, 2014 at 7:56 am

Ronsays:

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When you cannot run on your record or the issues, there is always this…

I just read an article about Christie and Perry – what their differences are and how they don’t really like each other.

It seems to me, based only on limited reading, that there is a bigger gap from one end of the conservative spectrum to the other than the division of extremes in liberal circles. If I’m not making sense, sorry, politics is not my strong suit.

February 7, 2014 at 12:58 pm

bobsays:

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KY JW:

“Could the divide also be related to the level of conservative?”

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner! If that were true, what must be true? There are more extreme liberals right now than conservatives. Something that I’ve had to explain to Libby several times when she says conservatives are more extreme than liberals, and says phrases such as “typical conservative, I’m right, you’re wrong, this is why no one agrees with you”.

But it still proves the level of independence observed by liberals and conservatives. If less conservatives are extreme, they are not reliant on being conservative. They are independent of conservative extremism.

January 31, 2014 at 2:56 pm

FFAsays:

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So, if I am reading this correctly. half the people dont like this? Negative opinion is increasing since just December.

I would tend to agree with agent here. Lets see where we are at in 6 months when the group side starts to see their coverage cancelled due to non compliance/comform and or the massive rate hikes looming. what gonna happen when the reprieve on the non compliant policies finally do get cancelled/non renewed.

Hey FFA, if you like your plan you can keep it, PERIOD! If you like your doctor, you can keep him, PERIOD! The average family will save $2,500. Once these lies are widely known by even the low information voter, I think the polls will be far worse. Of course, you will still need to have a representative poll. I would like to see the liberal voters reaction to having their policies cancelled and then having to buy this travesty at twice the rate, twice the deductible and twice the out of pocket. We also have to wait a little longer for people to go to the doctor to find out what it doesn’t pay or if they even have insurance they applied for on the site that isn’t a site.

Well, they dont have it until the carrier gets the premium. Just cause they paid in the govt web site, dont meant he carrier got it. Maybe thats his end game, he is going to keep all the premium collected on that site and send it to Syria.

Watch the link I just posted. Its a good explanation of how things are going.

From the age group of 18-35, i hear nothing but negative things about how the “affordable act” has impacted their life. And i would most certainly agree.

I am 30, have a wife (28) and son (1)-we pay $1200/month plus $40 co-pays per visit. If you do the math, that is roughly $15,000 for a healthy young adults to have health care coverage. It is completely ridiculous. We no health issues, my wife was a college athlete and yet we still pay that rate.

We understand that we pay way too much to cover those living in certain income brackets, as well as the “older” and “uninsured”. However, how are people in the 18-35 year old age group suppose to live with this mandate. And having a family, i simply cannot forgo health insurance.

I hope that one day, just like life insurance, health insurance will take into account a person’s age, their lifestyle to get a more accurate reading on how much premium it would take to cover their expenses in the event of needing medical attention. I cannot believe that something like that has not emerged-or at least i am not aware of.

Furthermore, our age group is paying for Social Security that most agree-we will never see-coupled with the embarrassing debt our nation is facing.

“We understand that we pay way too much to cover those living in certain income brackets, as well as the “older” and “uninsured”. However, how are people in the 18-35 year old age group suppose to live with this mandate. And having a family, i simply cannot forgo health insurance.”

Hey 30y.o., The thing you need to realize is that this law was not about Health Insurance. It is all about re-distribution of wealth, taking from the haves and giving to the have nots. Also, it is exercising control over a big part of the economy. Control Healthcare, control the people. Make them more dependent on government and keep winning elections because of that dependency. Healthy people should be underwritten with better rates, not subsidize older and sicker people. The skyrocketing premiums for the young and healthy are the reason why Millenials are not signing up.

Hey 30y.o., I know you are new to this blog and probably didn’t think by telling your story you would be attacked viciously by the likes of Cassandra. Progressive leftists are vile haters and are symptomatic of what is going on in our society. They are true believers of their leader who promised he would “fundamentally” change America to his agenda. He denied it to O’Reilly last night even though it is on tape before he was elected the first time. I feel sorry for young people with kids in this country trying to make it. You are being put upon for no good reason. I have grandchildren that have a more dismal future in front of them. Let’s hope that Progressive Socialism will implode soon and we can recover the country and make it a Constitutional Republic again in place of a Socialist Dictatorship.

Viciously attacked? You’ve got to be kidding. Cassandra makes a very valid point. We all pay for things through our taxes that benefit others and not necessarily ourselves. It’s the price of admission to live in this great country. It’s people like you that begrudge giving one red cent unless it benefits your personally (i.e. selfish or Republican – take your pick) that’s what’s wrong with this country.

Libby, I know you don’t think Cassandra made a vicious attack on a young family who is struggling to make it, but I point you to paragraph 4 of her rant. She started by calling him a whiny 30 year old and went on from there. I know I am talking to a brick wall and the Queen of Nasty. You and Cassandra must be related. You have much the same style. Gee, I thought you Progressives wanted the Millenial crowd enrolling in your plan. Way to treat them.

I saw that. Jon Stewart made her look like the fool that she is. I thought her face was going to fall off on camera. Her stock answer is that it wasn’t her fault. This is from someone who said she would pole vault over the fence to get the law passed and then said she had to pass it so she could see what was in it.

Just remember this and the time he pressed Secretary Sebilius when he makes Republicans/Conservatives look like fools. Jon Stewart is not a tool of the left, he is a comedian who happens to have one of the best grasps of politics.

His best shows are when he has Bill O’Reilly as a guest. They are more alike than different in how they hold both sides acountable when called for.

Not only should we repeal Obamacare, but let’s also get rid of some of the other useless Federal agencies as well. We can start with the following-

-IRS
-EPA
-DEA
-NSA

Then get rid of the income tax, slash military spending by adopting a non-intervention stance and concentrating ONLY on national interests and defense as it was intended in the Constitution, and we’ll be all set!

Representative Steve Stockman (R-Tx) is considering drawing up Articles of Impeachment. He actually walked out of the State of the Union rather than listening to the continuing lies by this President. He is running against John Cornyn in the primaries and he has my vote. I hope he writes up the Articles prior to leaving the House.

I will be very interested to see upon what the Articles of Impeachment are based. If they focus on President Obama’s lies, then I will applaud him because it will hopefully set a precedent to hold all future politicians accountable for their lies. If they focus on President Obama’s Socialist Agenda, Abuse of Power, or Unconstitutional Acts they will fail because they are baseless.

So Ron the Progressive Independent, what in your opinion will this President have to do to warrant Impeachment? Slick Willy was Impeached for lying to a Federal Grand Jury about the intern under the desk. This President has lied about just about everything including his major whoppers about Healthcare. Is there not one thing you would Impeach him for or are you just a go along lemming that thinks all is well and let’s just let him ride for the rest of his term?

February 3, 2014 at 1:53 pm

FFAsays:

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Didn’t Billy boy get impeached for his lies?

Have to agree with Ron on that point…. Send a message. Make it loud an clear. Flat out lies will not be tolerated. I would like to see sending our tax dollars over seas to support sworn enemies of the US as a basis for treason included too. I may be reaching, but it just pisses me off that Egypt & Syria are more important to him then the hungry kids on the home land. Message needs to be sent…. USA first.

February 4, 2014 at 11:40 am

Libbysays:

Hot debate. What do you think?

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Agent – I’m having a hard time deciding whether you’re just plain stupid or just a troll.

Ron said “If they focus on President Obama’s lies, then I will applaud him because it will hopefully set a precedent to hold all future politicians accountable for their lies.”

How do you get “So Ron the Progressive Independent, what in your opinion will this President have to do to warrant Impeachment?” out of that?

You’re incredible.

February 4, 2014 at 12:28 pm

Ronsays:

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Libby,

Please stop insulting the trolls. ;-)

I don’t think Agent is stupid, just grossly misinformed and closed-minded. He was probably raised in a typical backwards Texas home with old-fashioned values.

February 4, 2014 at 4:37 pm

bobsays:

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Yes Ron. There’s more of that independent spirit.

Texans are close minded.
Californians are hippies
Republicans are hypocrites if they ever use food stamps, because using them and living off them is the same thing (sarcasm)
And everyone who doesn’t agree with that is a troll.

You’re still too young and too indoctrinated to be an independent. With comments like yours it is clear you are on somewhat of the right track, but you have yet to admit democrats are worse currently than republicans.

February 4, 2014 at 4:21 pm

txmouthbreatherboogereatertxsays:

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I wonder what color crayon he’ll use to draw up the Articles of Impeachment.

Stig, let’s not forget the Dept of Agriculture, Energy & Commerce. There is plenty of blame to go around. They all have agencies, sub agencies, sub sub agencies to do the dirty work. How about eliminating the 30+ Czars hiding out in the basement doing the bidding of upstairs?

So FFA, what did you think of the game? I am an NFC guy like you are and was thrilled Seattle just drilled the Broncos. This was easily the least competitive game in the Super Bowl in many years. I bet there was a lot of money lost by the Broncos faithful who mistakenly thought Manning would get it done. I guess there is still something to the old adage that defenses win championships. I started to turn it off after Seattle ran the second half kickoff back by the lightning quick Percy Harvin. However, I stuck it out to see how bad the final score would be. Seattle is going to be a force for some time since they are one of the youngest teams in the league.

Manning wasn’t used to people getting in his face on many plays and either tipping the ball or causing ill advised throws. He becomes somewhat average under severe pressure. This game reminds me of Da Bears in 85 when their defense shut down the Pats. Also, Denver’s receivers were covered tightly most of the night. When did Decker get open? I don’t remember his name being called. When you can’t run with Moreno or pass consistently, it won’t be your night. I was still surprised it was not closer than it was. Denver was out coached and out played in every facet of the game.

FFA, I saw a good political cartoon this morning. It was on the three branches of government. The first branch was Obama, the second branch was him holding the phone and the third branch was him holding a pen. No need for the Legislative branch or the Judicial branch. He can just rule by edict for the final three years. Isn’t that a great prospect for the country?

The abject negativity of these comments is repelling. Had all the states been required to expand Medicaid, the negative rating wouldn’t be there.

Frankly, if I were in TX or any other state that did not agree to expand Medicare, I would be suing for unequal protection under the law…why wouldn’t a Texan get the benefit of the Medicare protections? Texans have there hands out when it comes to tax subsidies for oil producers…why not for something that would benefit their citizens (TX being the state with the largest number of uninsured)?

AS for the Constitution, oh, just stop it! There is a moral and ethical imperative to providing access to good health care for all US citizens. In this country, that almost directly translates into having health insurance. When you all state that people are losing their health coverage, did you find out WHY? Lifetime caps, maybe? Poor coverage maybe? Pre existing declinations, maybe? No mental health benefit, maybe? Cherry picking the risk pool, maybe? The media (and the White House) have not done a good job stating WHY people are losing their plans. I’ll also bet that most of the negativity is coming from states that have refused to expand Medicare.

As for our friend, the whining 30 year old, I have been paying for schools for your kids, maternity benefits for your family, roads for you to commute on…all things I do not have personal need for. Suck it up; you are not an island unto yourself. This is a price you pay for living in a SOCIETY. I have been paying into Medicare and Social Security and exorbitant and ever increasing property taxes (mainly for schools)for in excess of 47 years (less years for Medicare, obviously). Instead of whining about the cost of health insurance, why don’t you examine the reasons why we pay more for health care (and health insurance) in this country than anywhere else in the developed and non developed world, and our results are not among the best rankings on results. You can start with the sweetheart deal “W” made with the big pharma companies. And despite all those non negotiated prices, big pharma is more into schneiding the patent system than doing research for new drugs…You could continue on with the absolutely outrageous pricing for hospital care. You could also look into how much time a physician (or his paid staff) have to put in to satisfy various insurance carriers, all of which have different rules, criteria, and formats for reimbursement. Think that will hold you for a while???

You could also thank your lucky stars that you and wife and apparently your baby do not have chronic disease issues or were born with birth defects requiring expensive medical care, because, most assuredly, those diseases or conditions would not have been covered by health insurance before the ACA.

Personally, I support a single payor system. Think of how much more money could be paid to providers if the “for profit” expenses were no longer in the picture…exorbitant salaries for CEOs, one system that all physicians could follow, no commissions to (sometimes) marginally involved sales staff. As it is, a lot of our dollars are not going into care.

Regardless of what you think, the fact remains that Medicare delivers at a 4% cost instead of what..20% plus from the private market?

Instead of whining about this ACA and seeking to repeal it, why can’t we all sit down and REALISTICALLY figure out what improvements are needed?

Cassandra, I think your Progressive brain is more than a little confused. Do you think Medicare & Medicaid are the same? Medicare is reserved for retired folks and there are absolutley no restrictions to apply for it anywhere in the United States if you are 65. All one has to do is go down to the local Social Security office to get signed up and they will deduct the premiums from Social Security. The person then should buy a Supplemental policy to pay for what Medicare doesn’t. Medicaid, on the other hand is an “entitlement” for the poor who can’t afford Health Insurance. The Feds want to expand that since they will pass off the cost to the States and wreck their budgets. No wonder the States like Texas didn’t want to expand “Medicaid”, not Medicare.

Nice job avoiding the bulk of the post, Agent. Medicaid is state administered and federally funded. Without the funding the state does not have to adminsiter. It’s in the law. You can look it up during the comeerical breaks on Fox News.

Dubya, If poor Cassandra doesn’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, she is open to criticism. Do you know the difference or are you another Ron who has to go to a website for information?

Libby, Good to see you getting ramped up again trying to defend a page long rant by Cassandra. Attacking a young family trying to make it is not the way to win friends and influence people. Read her rant over again about expanding Medicare. Quite a difference in spelling and programs. She obviously doesn’t know what she is talking about, but goes on and on with her liberal slant.

February 4, 2014 at 12:50 pm

Libbysays:

Hot debate. What do you think?

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You have alot of nerve complaining about Ron insulting you when you did the exact same thing to Cassandra.

February 3, 2014 at 2:04 pm

FFAsays:

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Well Old Timer, Profit drive innovation/research. Take that out of the equation, why do any R&D? where is the incentive?

Profit is not a dirty word, but profit has no place in my ability to obtain or pay for health care. Insurance carriers do not do R&D, FFA. If we cut them out of the equation there would be much more money to pay providers, lowering the overall cost for everyone. Single payer. Just like Medicare and Medicaid.

Profit is a must for the company to survive. So many of the Dems on this site bash and trash companies for turning a profit.
Do you honestly think the Govt can do anything more efficiently then private industry with all the red tape & bureaucrats involved?
Take for example my parents Medicaid App. Been in the system since last May. Last week Sr Services called me and stated she got a call from Medicaid. We, the family members, have not heard word one. Meanwhile, the Nursing Home is not getting paid. With my elbows buried in the Medicaid Mess, I can tell you without any doubt, Medicaid is not efficient. real world, very inefficient. Lets not even mention the Medicare PIA. A private Ins Company (United of Omaha in particular) would have had this thing done and over with in 90 days or less.
My IRS Issue started last June. Its still dragging on. Seems so obvious, but yet, dragging on and on and on.
How about the Govts ability to agree on a budget? Is that efficient?

Govt efficient??? You cant be that blind… Anything the Govt does takes way longer then any private industry. That is real life experience.

Yes FFA, the libs on this site are the employees whose jobs depend on the owners. If the company/agency doesn’t make a profit, they don’t have jobs anymore. I think many are secret members of the OWS movement who thinks the nation should move to Socialism instead of Capitalism. Some of them are so dumb, they don’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, but they just keep on venting. There is nothing efficient about government run Healthcare. Libby thinks everything will be fine if we go to single payer. Wow, what a dunce! Did you see the latest story where 20,000+ people that thought they signed up and their info was so screwed up, it was garbled and lost by the site and they are trying to appeal and the site doesn’t even have an appeal process.

I wish your employees knew how you really felt about them, Agent. I’m sure they would be heading out the door to work for someone that appreciates them. I’d love to see how hard you’d have to work if they all walked out the door. Oh, that’s right. You said they were all expendable and easily replaced. You’re a turd of the highest order.

February 4, 2014 at 2:35 pm

Agentsays:

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My employees all like and admire me for what I do for them and I remunerate them well for doing a difficult job in this business. They are not radical like you and do not play on the IJ blog all day instead of getting things done, policies written & renewed and dealing with customers changes and filing claims for them. Why don’t you leave your employer and start your own agency from scratch since you are so much smarter than FFA & I?

February 4, 2014 at 2:45 pm

Libbysays:

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Ha! You answered your own question, Agent. And you only think your employees like you. Deep down I’m sure they know how elitist you think you are and they loath you.

February 4, 2014 at 2:47 pm

FFAsays:

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Until you have to deal with it, you have no idea what a pain in the ass inefficient system Medicaid is.

Yeah Libby, they just keep on sticking around, one 15 years, others up to 10. Funny thing is, they are as Conservative as I am and know how bad Socialists are and how they are ruining the country. They wouldn’t work around you for a heart beat because you would have the whole office in an uproar and I would have to send you to the unemployment line to restore order.

February 4, 2014 at 2:31 pm

Agentsays:

Hot debate. What do you think?

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Yes Libby, we all know how well Medicare & Medicaid pay providers. How come so many doctors do not want to see Medicare and Medicaid patients? Why do they close their practices to them? Why do so many not want to see Obamacare patients? Inquiring minds want to know.

Really FFA? I didn’t see that one. My favorite was the Budweiser horses pulling the wagon during a parade with our returning servicemen riding on it and re-uniting with their families. They also had another one of a puppy whose best buddy was one of the horses and it kept getting out of its yard and showing up over there in the stall. When they tried to drive off with the puppy, the horse galloped after it. They have some really great commercials.

Thank you for more evidence of your poor reading comprehension. FFA stated that the commercial only aired in IL. Since you are in TX, you would not have seen it. Can’t wait to see you spin your comment instead of just admitting you were wrong.

Thanks for the insult Ron. Sounds about right for the likes of you. Why would Illinois spend $150,000 for an ad airing only in their state? How stupid can they be? Pretty stupid I suppose since they are broke and have a big unfunded liability in their Pension Plan for state employees. Who would want to visit there to start with. I am glad it wasn’t on national TV. The National Ads are much better.

So, you are not going to admit that you misinterpreted FFA’s post? Typical Republican. Even when proven wrong you deflect to someone or something else.

I don’t give a rat’s ass how IL spends their money and neither should you. Stick with TX.

February 4, 2014 at 12:44 pm

FFAsays:

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Ron says: I don’t give a rat’s ass how IL spends their money.

Neither does our Gov….

February 3, 2014 at 4:12 pm

FFAsays:

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Well Ron, I can see why he would have thought it to be a national spot. Agent has a point – why on earth would IL spend $150,000 on a tourism commercial aired in Illinois only? The news stated thats all that was in the budget. Why would something like that be in the budget at all?

It just dont make sense other then its IL politics at its finest.

His response indicates to me that he thought I didnt tell the accurate story. But yes, as unbelievable that it is, thats what the knuckle heads in Springfield did.

Well FFA. I suppose the Fox Network cleaned up on the commercial spots. I would bet that the sponsors didn’t get the exposure for the last half since so many turned off the game when it was a rout. Illinois was stupid to spend the taxpayer money for a very expensive spot for just that state. Perhaps they want the people there to visit the Lincoln library in Springfield. Do you think Obama will have his library in that state? Maybe on the south side of Chicago?

Funny FFA. Yes, it was quite apparent what the difference was in team speed. Did you notice every time Manning tried a quick screen thinking his receiver would make 10 or 15 yards, the Seahawks were right there tackling for a very minimal gain, fighting through blocks. The Bronco’s thought they could have their way with any defense and just move the ball down the field like they have all season. Their coaches must have been in shock and never recovered.

I am also the sole breadwinner. It is not about who wears the pants. I have a job to do as a husband and father and that includes doing more than just bringing home a paycheck. I feel real sorry for your wife if you expect her to do everything around the house. You really need to get out of the 1950s when you were in grade school.

February 4, 2014 at 1:11 pm

Ronsays:

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FFA,

Denver actually won the last 2 times they went to the Super Bowl.

February 4, 2014 at 2:28 pm

FFAsays:

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Didnt Elway pick up two rings?

if I remember correctly, one was against the Pack and Holmgren was coach and Denver had Terell Davis as their power back. GB let TD score so they could have some time left to come back… If I remember correctly.

February 4, 2014 at 4:44 pm

bobsays:

Hot debate. What do you think?

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Ok enough out of you two, Libby and Ron.

More women are stay at home moms than men.

Making a comment about he sounds like the guy who takes care of everyone’s stuff, is NOT sexist. If anything, it speaks volumes to the difficulties stay at home mom’s go through. Which is kind of what Agent was stating: You sound stressed out from being a stay at home (dad) mom.

Now that we are done with you trying to find social norms to state about how women were dominated in the 50’s (THEY WERE NOT) let’s stop trying to find supposed hate filled sections of agent, stop trying to be zealots (which is no different than Christian zealots) and show some damn respect. It’s why I usually yell at the two of you.

You act like a whiny brat, expect the hand!

February 6, 2014 at 4:02 pm

KY jwsays:

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bob, Ron specifically said he is the one who works outside the home. How does that translate to:

“You sound stressed out from being a stay at home (dad) mom.”??

February 6, 2014 at 5:18 pm

bobsays:

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JW:

It translates directly to “Mr. Mom” who does everything, which I translated as being a “stay at home dad” simplex, but had to compare as Libby was the one who said Agent was a sexist pig for suggesting women stayed at home more than men. It was a complicated answer to give since I was replying to two people.

I didn’t lose track. You did.

February 7, 2014 at 8:46 am

Libbysays:

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Bob – I called Agent a sexist pig because of his remark “Easy to see who wears the pants in the family.” This insinuates he’s a pussy since he helps around the house, because that’s women’s work. It is a sexist thing to say.

February 7, 2014 at 10:00 am

KY jwsays:

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bob, Ron isn’t a stay at home dad. Why do you keep talking about that? He’s not a “Mr. Mom” because he helps with the household chores. My husband helps with the household chores, but I dare you to call my retired Army CSM “Mr. Mom.”

February 7, 2014 at 12:28 pm

bobsays:

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KY JW:

Agent’s comment very much implied more than a help out around the house guy “Mr. Mom” especially when he said

“who has to do all the cleaning, cooking for the family.”.

key words “all” the cleaning and cooking. What other household tasks are there, unless we go outside the house to gardenwork?

He also mentioned wearing the pants.

It’s very clear he was talking about Ron being equal to a stay at home mom in tasks, which is comparable to stay at home dad syndrome, or Mr. Mom, both very similar, but are semantics.

Why are you taking an issue with semantics, and why do you keep pressing it?

February 7, 2014 at 12:30 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

So then you better have never said anything about wearing pants, which seeing as I am very confident you have at one point or another said this to a male who was complaining to you or not acting manly, swing and a miss Libby.

Wearing the pants is not a sexist against women phrase. It’s very commonly used against men. In fact, more so than it is used by men. In WA in my work, every, single, woman, in this office has talked about their man not wearing the pants when they call in “bitching” (talking about house issues) on their lunches.

And I have never met a woman who has not said the phrase when they think their man is acting either too conservative (I’m in Seattle remember?) or is talking too much about his problems.

February 7, 2014 at 12:50 pm

KY jwsays:

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Ron said he “helps” with household chores. I don’t like the “Mr. Mom” image that is presented by Agent’s post. He makes it sound like it’s a bad thing that Ron helps with household duties. Since Ron’s wife is home and also does some of those duties, why is Agent acting like Ron is less than any other husband?

Why do I keep pressing? Because I don’t understand. Also because I don’t approve of bigotry of any kind and this conversation has pushed one of my hot buttons. Ridiculing men who help with chores is wrong. I don’t know Ron and I don’t know the dynamic of his marriage. It doesn’t matter that I don’t know these things, what matters is the insult to men. Why shouldn’t a man take an interest in the kitchen? Or the laundry room? Or any other area that needs something done?

Actually, this whole series of posts may be another example of Agent not paying attention to Ron’s words. Ron was very clear that his wife doesn’t work outside the home. He was also clear that he likes to help around the house.

February 7, 2014 at 12:52 pm

Libbysays:

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Bob says “I am very confident you have at one point or another said this to a male who was complaining to you or not acting manly, swing and a miss Libby.”

Since when is “I am very confident” a valid argument in any debate, Bob? It has no basis in fact, as I do not make sexist comments to males or females.

Strike three and you’re out.

February 7, 2014 at 12:57 pm

KY jwsays:

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By the way, “who’s wearing the pants” is an insult to men, but it shouldn’t be.

I honestly haven’t used that phrase. Mostly because it doesn’t mean anything in today’s society. In the 40s & 50s women generally wore dresses, so at that time men wore the pants. But now that women wear pants suits as often as skirt suits, it doesn’t have the relevancy. Now, I will say “suck it up and deal with it” but that applies to both men and women. (disclaimer – marine brat & army wife who prefers to wear pants here)

February 7, 2014 at 1:01 pm

bobsays:

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KY JW:

Ok, you’ve changed my mind on several issues.

Though I still think Ron is a jack ass, and he jumped at that ability to insult Texas.

Agent really shouldn’t have left it open though.

February 7, 2014 at 1:04 pm

bobsays:

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This went in the wrong section:

Libby,

So you’re going to play that phrase? Just because I’m confident doesn’t make me right?

I have never heard any man or woman say that when I wasn’t right. They simply say that they have never said it, and then we leave it at that. You just side stepped the fact that you have said it.

So let me ask again, all caps: HAVE YOU, OR HAVE YOU NOT, SAID THE PHRASE TO A MAN YOU HAVE DATED THAT HE WAS NOT WEARING THE PANTS??

I already know the answer is yes. Knowing it is yes, is no different than you “knowing” how conservatives act. You think that’s ok, well, it’s ok for me to know your patterns.

February 7, 2014 at 1:49 pm

Libbysays:

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You would just call me a liar if I said I never said it. But if I have said it, I know I haven’t said it recently, as both my husband AND I wear pants.

Yes FFA. Elway did pick up two rings and then retired. He was also the quarterback when they lost the 55-10 game. Up until this game, that was the worst loss by any team in Super Bowl history. Now, they have the distinction of losing the two most lopsided games since they have played the game.

Just because it is fun to prove you wrong, New England lost by 36 to Chicago Bears.

Correct me if I am wrong, but 36 is greater than 35, right?

So Denver only has the distinction of losing 2 of the 3 most lopsided Super Bowls.

February 4, 2014 at 4:03 pm

txmouthbreatherboogereatertxsays:

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Today’s chat was brought to you by the letter 4 and the number H

February 4, 2014 at 4:31 pm

Agentsays:

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Ron, we know what kind of fan you are. You spent most of the time in the kitchen rather than watch the game. You sound a lot like Libby who didn’t watch her favorite Bronco’s the first half in the New England game and then watched in horror when they blew a 24-0 halftime lead. If she bothered tuning into the Superbowl, she probably had to take a tranquilizer after 10 minutes and then turned it completely off by halftime rather than watch her heros get their butts kicked all over the field.

February 4, 2014 at 4:33 pm

FFAsays:

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Da Bears….

And Payton and Co in Indy cleaned the bears clock with Bad Rex as our QB.

February 4, 2014 at 6:57 pm

Ronsays:

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Agent,

Are going to admit that you were wrong in stating, “Now, they have the distinction of losing the two most lopsided games since they have played the game.”?

I may not have watched the whole game, but I have proven you wrong on football knowledge a couple of times.

I really did not care who was going to win and the game turned out to be a major dud anyway. At least I accomplished something besides being bored by Manning’s poor performance.

The fact that there have been at least dislikes of my post stating a simple fact totally discredits any judgment of someone’s posts based on likes and dislikes.

FFA, perhaps it was that big sucking noise that Ross Perot described when he opposed NAFTA years ago when he ran for President. They just sucked $150,000 out of Illinois for a stupid spot that is not going to help the state.

FFA, pay no attention to Ron, the Progressive Independent troll. He reads an interprets everything from the leftist viewpoint. He flip flops on every post he makes. He agrees and disagrees on every subject which makes him consistently inconsistent. No wonder he leads the IJ in dislikes by a wide margin.

When you say Progressive are you referring to my positions of lower taxes, welfare reform, tax reform (simplification), less spending, total freedom from government oppression. Those Progressive views?

I believe I was the one who actually interpreted FFA’s post correctly, not you.

I do not see things in black and white like you do. If you were not so closed-minded, you would understand that both sides of nearly every issue has a valid reason behind their position.

Please provide the data comparing my dislikes to everyone else’s. Or are you just stating your opinion withoput evidence, again? Maybe people dislike my posts because they present a truth that they do not like. Most do not offer a reply or provide evidence to contradict my positions. They are called haters.

The haters, unlike Agent, don’t have an intelligent response to our posts and thumb them down in silence to avoid making themselves look foolish. Agent, on the other hand, has no problem making himself look foolish. Again, and again, and again.

Ron, you don’t have to tell me you don’t see things like I do. Your hundreds of posts tell us all we need to know about you and your opinions. You admitted to being a “TWO FACED” Independent in the last blog. Where I come from, being two faced is one of the worst things to be. People don’t tend to trust anything a two faced blogger has to say. By the way, people don’t like your comments because there isn’t truth to two faced comments.

Ron, don’t give us that nonsense about you being for less spending, lower taxes, welfare reform, freedom from government oppression. If you were Conservative in your views, you wouldn’t continually post government websites with trumped up numbers or post articles from leftist economists who promote Socialism as the answer. You are a very dishonest person and a two faced Independent as you proudly proclaimed. You lost your credibility quite some time ago. Bob ripped you a new one and you refused to debate him.

The ONLY reason I no longer debate Bob is due to his disrespectful, profanity-laced posts. If you want me to stop debating you and making you look like a fool, just follow his lead.

As I stated before, I am fiscally Conservative and socially Liberal.

Can you give me another source, not necessarily a website, that provides economic data, please provide. Otherwise, quick discrediting my sources without any evidence they should be discredited.

February 4, 2014 at 4:55 pm

bobsays:

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Nope, Ron, you make just as many baby comments, you just don’t make the direct comments.

The only reason you don’t debate me is:

You don’t have a leg to stand on. I often quote 4 links in one post, just to have you in the same article state I never quote numbers. Condescending behavior like that will be met with force, and if we met in person, you would cower or never do it I’m sure.

And

You can’t handle conflict. At all. Passive conflict resolvers attract the direct. You can look it up a bit.

February 4, 2014 at 4:50 pm

bobsays:

Hot debate. What do you think?

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Ron:

As much as you say that, there isn’t a “both sides” support or position for many of the areas of Lower taxes, and less spending.

You use that one side, to state you are an independent, while you then label the left as the party who is not total freedom from government oppression because of gay issues (which you label the whole party based on the minority) and you give a simultaneous pass to the left’s dominating gay issues (which in my state I have shown how they oppress religions, but I guess that somehow in your head democrats don’t oppress with gays, because you’ve said before the gay issues are part of why you don’t like republicans) and then you try to tie in women’s issues, which you’re poorly researched on.

The reason you are progressive, is you allow your (supposed “heart” that you want to believe is unique and better than other people’s hearts that are just so so cold in republicans) to over ride most of your logical arguments.

It is sometimes middle ground, but other times, you out right just create an imbalance just because those republicans are so bad.

Ron, you didn’t care because you are not a football fan. If you were a fan and was paying attention to the game, you would have known that Manning was under stress from his offensive line letting him down by allowing Seattle to break through on about every passing play. Any quarterback would not have much luck if they had someone in their face play after play. How can you make a judgment on Mannings poor performance when you were busy washing dishes and mopping the floor. By the way, there weren’t many guys in Texas doing work in the kitchen while this game was going. They may have helped cleaning up after the game, but not during it.

Thank you for confirming that guys in Texas would rather watch a terrible football game than accomplish something to help their wife/family. Great family values there. If the game were actually interesting I would have been glued to the set.

I am a fan of good football, not what was on Sunday night. Do you even know the difference?

By the way, still waiting for you to admit that you were wrong in stating, “Now, they have the distinction of losing the two most lopsided games since they have played the game.”?

Ron, you are hopeless. In Texas, the “whole’ family watches football games from high school to college to the pros. You should rent “Friday Night Lights” sometime to see how seriously people take football in our state. Our people clean up after games, not in the first quarter like you do, Mr. Mom. By saying you are a fan of good football, you are telling me that if it doesn’t go your way, you tune it out. What if Denver mounted a comeback in the second half while you were in there playing in the kitchen? You would have had to pull up your websites to get a summary. No, I won’t apologize to you. A 55-10 licking is still as bad as it sounds.

You are hopeless. That is one of the problems with Texas. Peiople are so concerned about football they forget to regulate fertilzer plants and whole towns get blown up.

The game could not possibly go my way since I was not rooting for either team. I only wanted a good game. I did not see any sign from Denver that they would be able to come back. I kept checking back and it only got worse every time I looked. If there was any comeback I would have been watching.

I was not asking you to apologize to me, only admit that you were technically wrong. Are you even physically capable of that?

February 5, 2014 at 6:22 pm

bobsays:

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Strike two on the conservative imbalance.

There it is again. Random insertion that republicans just are so stupid (like most conservatives) that they let things explode and watch sports. 1 million people are doing a sports parade in Seattle right now, and we recently set a record with our stomping causing a small earthquake.

Enjoying sports is not limited to conservatives, nor is stupidity and not caring about people.

February 5, 2014 at 6:41 pm

FFAsays:

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Well Bob, Ill tip my hat to your Seahawks. Russel Wilson on Letterman this week. Was just smiling ear to ear – happier then a pig in a mud puddle.

Whats the word on Sherman Injury?

February 6, 2014 at 10:55 am

Libbysays:

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Bob – Ron’s comment was directed at Texans, not Republicans or Conservatives.

February 6, 2014 at 12:08 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

Oh come on. You know better than that. He chose Texas why?

Because of the conservative leanings.

Personally, I like Texans, both the liberal Texans and the Conservative (barring the fact that there a little bit of crazy liberals there who are sick of the crazy conservatives.). It’s a nice state.

February 6, 2014 at 12:10 pm

bobsays:

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FFA:

Haha the Seahawks aren’t mine. But I do get your point. I didn’t expect them to win. With the Sonics leaving and our teams getting thrashed so often, that’s why the whole city went crazy. You should have seen it. It wasn’t just at the parade. People were going crazy everywhere. Fireworks, streets of people’s houses just screaming, it was quite over the top.

February 6, 2014 at 12:30 pm

FFAsays:

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Looks like the Texans are in line for Johnny Football… Too bad they didnt get Lovie for the Coach.

February 6, 2014 at 12:38 pm

Libbysays:

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Un, Bob. He chose Texas because it’s Texas. They’re so easy to pick on. Dumb, hillbilly, rednecks chewing on straw and trying to out-draw each other on a Saturday night. That’s because Friday nights are for football and beer drinkin’. Shit fire, Bo! Don’t you know that?

February 6, 2014 at 3:17 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

First of all, that’s what you and him associate with most republicans not just Texans.

Second of all, that there is a pretty bold stereo type (my attempt at Southern Talk).

How many Texans do you know? The women that I know from Texas are such nice women it’s quite crazy, and they don’t go all straw out of their teeth etc. They enjoy different music, and sometimes are “a fixin’ for” but it’s not really that hickish. It’s actually really cute when a girl calls you sugar, or their styles of speech. It doesn’t at all come off hickish.

I wanted to date a couple Texan women but it just didn’t work out. They wanted to go back to Texas :)

February 6, 2014 at 4:13 pm

KY jwsays:

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Actually, bob and Libby, Ron chose Texas because Agent said:

“In Texas, the “whole’ family watches football games from high school to college to the pros.”

February 6, 2014 at 4:14 pm

KY jwsays:

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Ugh, I didn’t copy the whole quote. Are you going to get pissy because my copy and paste skills need work, bob?

February 6, 2014 at 4:22 pm

Libbysays:

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Oh, come on Bob. That’s not what I think of all Republicans. To tell the truth I don’t think that about ALL Texans, but most. You know we do it to get under Agent’s skin.

February 6, 2014 at 5:21 pm

bobsays:

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KY jw:

Nope. He chose to reply to a comment pertaining to Texas, because he knew he could insult Texas under the stereotype.

Believe it or not, Agent doesn’t get a free pass for himself labeling Texans, allowing Ron to further it. Ron chose to link football to not caring about people and explosions.

Am I pissy? Ad Hominem attacks mostly receive swear words from me, since they are attacks…Feel lucky you aren’t getting a hostile reply.

February 6, 2014 at 5:40 pm

bobsays:

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JW:

Is whether or not I’m pissy, or is it not, unrelated to the topic at hand?

That is ad hominem as it is not related.

Is that or is it not a smart ass attack? It is. I can respond hostile to someone who takes unrelated character announcements in a tone with me.

February 7, 2014 at 8:56 am

Libbysays:

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ad ho·mi·nem
[ad hom-uh-nuhm -nem, ahd‐] adjective

1. appealing to one’s prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one’s intellect or reason.

2. attacking an opponent’s character rather than answering his argument.

If this doesn’t perfectly describe Agent’s typical response, I don’t know what does.

February 7, 2014 at 10:10 am

KY jwsays:

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bob, the “pissy” remark was just a forewarning that I noticed I didn’t copy the entire post and I didn’t care if it bothered anyone. That probably does rise to the level of attack. Pretty lame attack, though, because “pissy” only means upset and showing it.

February 7, 2014 at 10:12 am

KY jwsays:

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I still think that Agent bringing Texas and football into the debate is why Ron responded as such. However, it’s just my opinion, and really doesn’t matter.

February 7, 2014 at 10:17 am

KY jwsays:

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I’m a football fan, but I didn’t watch. Several reasons, including I hate watching Pete Carroll coach and I knew Denver didn’t have a defense. I was right about the defense, huh?

So KYjw, you chose not to watch a game that 100 million did watch. Are you sure you are a football fan? What is wrong with Pete Carroll? You have to admit he has had a lot of success in his career and obviously has good assistants who know how to coach and he has obviously put a great team on the field. He also outcoached and outsmarted the Denver coaches who were constantly rolling their eyes, made no adjustments to what Seattle was doing and basically got their heads handed to them.

Agent, I don’t like Pete Carroll. I think he is responsible for the mess at USC and is a prime example of what is wrong in college sports. I’m not a USC fan, but I am offended when coaches game the system and then bail. Just one of my hot buttons.

As far as my fan status, I like football and I watched the playoffs. It was interesting that the two teams that made it to the super bowl were the two with the best record for the season. However, after watching Denver in the playoffs, I was not impressed. Oh, and I wanted the 49ers to go instead of the Seahawks. So, my heart wasn’t in it. I guess that means I’m not a die hard fan. I like watching, but I wasn’t all that interested in that game. Call me a fair weather fan.

Dont worry agent. Only think I actually pay attention to is the useful info that comes from here. There has been plenty from both sides of the argument. The insults, the personal jabs, the name calling – GIGO.

Leave it to you to parse words and be so technical. An extra point on a touchdown doesn’t mean the Patriots were any worse than the Bronco’s were in a 55-10 game. It was a thorough butt kicking in both games. Good jab on the fertilizer plant. How many disasters in the rest of the country have you forgotten? Only Texas is singled out. Good job, hater or are you just jealous that Texas leads the country in job creation by a wide margin? We also will have a surplus in our Treasury when the legislature convenes next time. How did we do that with no state income tax?

Bob, I will say that Texas women are a whole lot nicer than the Blue State northern gals like Libby. We don’t have many of those Progressive trolls down here with the one exception of the now infamous Wendy Davis who is running for governor. She is so bad, she accused Greg Abbott of faking his paralysis to gain the sympathy vote. He has been a paraplegic for over 30 years and is a very nice Conservative guy. He will make a fine governor after he swamps her in the election.

People here just aren’t very friendly. You ask for a number to a girl you had a nice conversation with and your motives are questioned.

Go to a club, get drunk, and grind a random woman though who you end up waking up with in bed the next morning, and that’s ok. Then you might have good intentions and MAYBE it’s ok to ask for a number. But don’t call the day after!

I mean really, I never had to put up with any of that %@@@ing crud with Texan women.

You have a nice hello and you can end a good conversation with a sweet woman who is perfectly willing to see you again, and even if it isn’t a date you will still enjoy it!

Ok, not ok at all, and though I don’t do it often I will do it when you talk about my personal life with my kids and wife:

TAKE IT BACK AND APOLOGIZE IMMEDIATELY!!! Or you will suffer such a wrath, the like of which you have never known! I’m up with my kids, I read with my daughter, and I bathed her every night for the first year after she was born, through the time period that she washed my hair while I washed hers. My daughter was so well developed in all facets due to how I raised her the first few years she was talking (and it’s on tape) at 1 and a half, saying “wreath on the door!” “daddy, bath, don’t forget!” and “look, a Macaw” in her books. I bought her every type of child development toy (assistance with walking, assistance with crawling, toys to pull herself up, toys to help with shape and hand eye coordination) put her into the best day care, I have not focused on dating since well before I met her mom! I haven’t focused on myself, since well before I met her mom, and I can damn well tell you don’t have kids by how you talk!

Even though I dated some 13 years ago, I do still remember it in this god forsaken town! And I still know people dating at work. Seattle Freeze isn’t even a phrase I knew, it was told to me by my coworker females at work. One aged 22 one aged 32.

I have several co workers here who are dating. I am around people who date, and not one of them has had success in the last 7 years that I have been working here.

Rather than stating that I am some sleaze bag male, you better back the fuck up, before you get a dedicated husband and daddy’s foot up your ass! I did more for my kids than nearly any dad, and every person at my work commented on it. Before they were born, I was literally ready to compete in lifting and body building. That took too much time so I gave it up and just figured I would take care of health for my kids and my wife. I’m not complaining, but you would know nothing of that sacrifice. At all. Around the time my father died I took it steps further and have my mom living with me currently to help her.

I am not some kid in the dating scene cheating on his wife. I’m a guy who sacrifices everything for those he cares about, and takes care of nearly all my family of 7 siblings issues. I have younger siblings who rely on me as well as 2 older. They wouldn’t rely on anyone who met the profile you just mentioned.

February 7, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Libbysays:

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Whoa! I struck a nerve, did I? Me thinks thou dost protest too much.

Your comments sure made it sound like it was recent personal experience you were talking about. Don’t get mad at me if I call you out about it. A simple no, I got that information from single people at work would have sufficed.

You WAY overreacted for that to be the case.

February 6, 2014 at 12:06 pm

Agentsays:

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Bob, congratulations to your Seahawks. They proved that defense still wins championships and they really got after the vaunted Bronco’s line and Manning. They aren’t bad on offense either. Percy Harvin was the missing ingredient during the regular season, but he paid big dividends in this game. I look for this young team to be a factor for some time since they have talent and a great work ethic. The coaches and players had a really good game plan. Most of the commentators did not give them a lot of credit going in and preferred the conventional wisdom predicting Denver in a close game. Oops! A few of them had egg all over their face.

YES, typing Medicare for Medicaid was a typo. And, for my less liberal frinds who may not remember WHY we have MEDICARE…old people couldn’t get health insurance in the private market. Sound familiar?

As far as bankrupting the USA, we are doing a fine fine job of that by allowing not only our jobs to be exported (wait til it starts hitting white collar jobs like yours, and then we’ll see if your tune changes) but now allowing corporations to declare that they can’t find competent citizens for white collar jobs (REALLY????) and asking to import foreign workers for these.

NO ONE is railing against fair profits for those who work and produce. We ALL should be railing against unfair profits of stock and commodities manipulators who produce nothing but are just gaming the system.

We REALLY need to have serious dialogue in this country without the stupid name calling and insultings that are so rife inn these posts. We DO need to address income inequality. We DO need to address unequal opportunity.

The EXCEPTIONALISM of America is that we have been able to combat and overcome such issues and EXPAND opportunity and reward that with decent wages and improving living standards. I am not so sure that under the current political climate, with very much unequal access between we, the People and large corporations and unions, that we can continue to effectively problem solve.

Income inequity (not inequality) is the gap between the wealthiest of Americans and the middle class. The gap has been widening since the 1970’s (thanks, Regan.) The rich are getting richer and the middle class is taking it in the shorts.

In 2012, the gap between the richest 1 percent and the remaining 99 percent was the widest it’s been since the 1920s. Incomes of the wealthiest 1 percent rose nearly 20 percent, whereas the income of the remaining 99 percent rose 1 percent in comparison.

You may be proud to be conservative, but you should be ashamed of your conservative trait of lack of reading comprehension.

“Last September, economist Mark J. Perry noted that an analysis of salary data from the 2013 Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff showed the 228 female White House employees were being paid a median annual salary of $65,000 while 231 male staffers earned a median annual salary of nearly $75,000.”

This statement in and of itself means nothing. There was no study of men versus women in the same job, with the same education level, with the same tenure, with the same ANYTHING.

Please bring us a study that has some merit and we can consider it.

February 7, 2014 at 10:25 am

KY jwsays:

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I hate to ask: how do you know they are doing the same job and have the same performance on the job?

My point, while quite radical, is that just because two people have the same job description doesn’t mean they perform their job functions equally. I am a strong proponent of pay based upon performance.

Not radical at all. Gender should never be a deciding factor regarding compensation.

February 4, 2014 at 2:52 pm

Agentsays:

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Cassandra, Perhaps you should do more railing against a Federal Goverenment that is out of control, bankrupting the country with entitlements and against a leader who thinks Socialism is the way to go and intends to go around Congress and rule with a phone and a pen if he is allowed to get away with it. I got a good laugh out of his answer to O’Reilly about whether he was the most liberal President in recent history. His answer was that Tricky Dicky Nixon was more liberal. For all the lying, scandal after scandal, he now blames Fox News for them. Wow, I guess he would have gotten away with them with NBC, ABC, CBS on the scene since they haven’t reported anything newsworthy in the last 5 years.

In regards to Govt efficiency, just got a call from a captive agent looking for 1099 so he could send one out. He ordered them from the IRS back in December. They are back logged (out of stock) and the post office nor the library stocks them any more. I referred him to my accountant in hopes that he has some.

Yes FFA, the IRS are real sweethearts. By the way, the President said there was not even a “smidgeon” of corruption when they targeted Conservative Groups when 501C3’s were applied for even though the numbers were 288-29. Lois Lerner took the 5th rather than testify and now she is enjoying her generous retirement. I wonder why the IRS chief visited the White House 167 times back then.

I had my own experience with what was a simple FEIN change when we merged years ago with another agent. We did all the paperwork properly and they still got our taxes screwed up. Dealing with a bureaucrat in the Cincinnati office was not a pleasant experience and our CPA had to get involved. Yes, they are truly model citizens.

Did you ever stop and ask why are Conservative or Liberal groups filing 501(c)3’s when they are for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals organizations.

You do realize that groups with Liberal names were targeted also, right?

My guess is that someone from the Tea Party (Koch Bros.) instructed these group to file with Conservative names just to have ammunition against the IRS and President Obama.

Can you name 1 Liberal group that filed for a 501(c)3 exemption and was not targeted for additional scrutiny?

Obama’s half brother got his approval in 30 days. The numbers are there Ron. 288 Conservative Groups, 29 Liberal Groups. Please tell me why Lois Lerner would not testify if she were clean. Perhaps she fell on her sword to keep from spilling the beans on her DC masters.

“Those numbers tell me that there are more Conservative groups trying to game the system than Liberal groups. Sounds like more Liberal groups pay their fair share of taxes than Conservatives”

A statement that cannot be made without seeing the total submissions, which I’m sure you have not seen.

See my other comment where you randomly create sudden imbalances against conservatives. This is one of them. You are a progressive.

February 4, 2014 at 5:04 pm

Agentsays:

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Hey Ron, google Malik Obama and the Barack H. Obama Foundation which was granted approval as a non profit in record time. This half brother is into all kinds of mischief supporting Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Quida groups. Quite revealing with several good stories. I wonder if the half brother knows what he is up to.

February 4, 2014 at 8:02 pm

Ronsays:

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Agent,

I did Google that and I agree that something does not smell right. Even Huffington Post and NLPC are calling for an investigation. However, where does it state they are a Liberal organization with a political agenda? Which means you have not provided a Liberal group who was not targeted by the IRS for additional scrutiny based on their name.

Better that then what Obama has done sending my tax dollars to sworn enemies of the US.

Would rather see the home land taken care of. But the govt Obama in particular just dont care what the average joe thinks.

February 5, 2014 at 10:59 am

txmouthbreatherboogereatertxsays:

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Iran-Contra Affair

February 5, 2014 at 11:21 am

FFAsays:

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Yea. That too.

February 5, 2014 at 3:46 pm

Agentsays:

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Yes FFA, he is probably just giving the money to his half brother Malik who is supporting Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood and Al Quida per the story I saw. Hey, brothers have to support their brothers, don’t they?

February 5, 2014 at 3:06 pm

Agentsays:

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Ron, can you be that stupid? Do you think an organization that supports Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood and Al Quida has a political agenda? I do and so should you. This should outrage you as it does me and others with a brain and values. Get back to work mopping your kitchen floor.

Maybe you should watch less football, work on your reading comprehension skills, and become more educated.

And, it is OK to admit when you make a mistake. 36 is more than 35.

February 5, 2014 at 4:18 pm

FFAsays:

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I think, as of late, you two agree more then you dis agree. As time goes on, you may even get to the point where you can post back and forth with the slams…

This yahoo with the c word, well probably just a paid agitator. Never has any point to make. Trying his hardest to get under my skin. Well, insults and pointless dribble dont do that.

On an unrelated note all together, my wife got hit again today. Some yahoo clipped her and broke off the mirror. You guys & gals must think I make this shit up cause no one can have this bad of luck… People that know me tell me I would be better TV then the Kardashions. My bowling buddy told me he was going to get me on Maury Show.

February 5, 2014 at 9:53 am

Agentsays:

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FFA, in keeping with the IRS theme and how great they are, there is a new story out this morning that they intend to give $82 million in bonuses to their employees to improve “morale”. This rogue agency has done a lot of harm, will see to the enforcement of Obamacare and they deserve a bonus???????

Agent, where did you get that info? I watched the news for about a half hour this Am and all that was on was how bad roads are up here. We are getting hit with snow again. Salt shortage going on around us. That was the big story. Oh and that yahoo that OD’d…

It indicatee that the bonuses ($70 million, not $82 million) are not to improve morale, but the IRS is contractually obligated to pay and have been in the CBA for decades. Apparently, when were running huge deficits under other administrations, these bonuses were fine, but not now.

It also points how how many IRS employees have taken unpaid time off and the number of positions lost to attrition.

Ron & FFA. The Washington Times and GOPUSA both posted this article on the new IRS Bonus scheme and cited the new IRS Commissioner and his morale concerns. Posted on 2-4-14 in the afternoon. Your 2013 info is old news now.

February 5, 2014 at 1:46 pm

Ronsays:

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Agent,

I found the arfticle. Thank you.

Did you read the entire article? They are getting a 1% bonus when they are supposed to get 1.75% per their CBA. I am not saying they deserve any bonus at all, but no one is getting rich off of these bonuses.

In addition, it is not just union employees receiving bonuses.

I also like Senator Hatch’s statement, “It’s hard to think of a group of people less deserving of bonuses than IRS employees. Frankly, this is outrageous.”. I do not think it is that difficult find a group of people less deserving, they are called politicians. Not only are they not deserving of bonuses, they are barely deserving of a paycheck.

February 5, 2014 at 3:15 pm

FFAsays:

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I have yet to read it… $82 mill is a big number. I have never heard of this in the past. It would have ticked me off the same.

not ok for AIG bonus. ok for IRS employees. In my brain. this is not ok. No wonder they are trying to squeeze more money out of me.

February 5, 2014 at 3:36 pm

Ronsays:

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FFA,

The actual number is $62.5 million. Still a big number, but Agent is wrong…again.

February 5, 2014 at 11:13 am

Ronsays:

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FFA,

Do not expect Agent to back up anything he says. The closest I could find is this article on CNN back in June 2013.

It indicates that the bonuses ($70 million, not $82 million) are not to improve morale, but the IRS is contractually obligated to pay and have been in the CBA for decades. Apparently, when were running huge deficits under other administrations, these bonuses were fine, but not now.

It also points how how many IRS employees have taken unpaid time off and the number of positions lost to attrition.

Thank you for your acknowledgment Ron after criticizing me for not providing sources. You would rather try to discount me than checking more thoroughly using old information. The IRS not only does not deserve bonuses of any kind, they probably need a pay cut for the mischief they cause. Did you read what they are doing to poor FFA? It is criminal and he has paid them. IRS has requested more funding to put more agents in the field to enforce Obamacare. Perhaps they were just going to use it to fund more bonuses.

February 5, 2014 at 3:39 pm

Ronsays:

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Agent,

If you had provided your source in your initial post, I would not have criticized you.

After your post I googled “$82 million in bonuses to IRS” and the CNN article is the only one that came up.

February 5, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Agentsays:

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Yes Ron, I admit I got the 6 & 8 mixed up and mistyped the number. However, I was right on the story and you were wrong to use old numbers from one of your bogus websites you like to use. In any case, we may agree that the IRS deserves no bonuses whatsoever. I don’t care how bad the morale is there. They can quit and try to find a job in the private sector if they can find one.

February 5, 2014 at 3:58 pm

Ronsays:

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HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agent finally admitted he was wrong.

February 5, 2014 at 6:24 pm

bobsays:

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Ron,

Which equals: Agent 1

Ron admitting he was wrong: 0

You are showing your pride and condescending behavior, which again, is why I beat you up so to speak.

Then you claim I’m the bad guy. Of course.

February 6, 2014 at 11:56 am

Libbysays:

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Agent – I guess it’s OK for you to mix up 8 and 6 but not for me to mix up $ and # or Cassandra to mix up Medicare and Medicaid. You’re such a hypocrite. You berate both of us for a simple typo, but blow yours off as if it’s nothing. At least I got the numbers right, just put a $ where I shouldn’t have.

And Bob – Ron has admitted he’s wrong when he has been. But it’s not very often so you probably missed it.

February 6, 2014 at 12:13 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

My point was that Ron is using it as a selling point, as if it’s being tracked.

It was sarcasm.

I don’t support people who debate ad hominem. Whether or not one has fulfilled their quota of admitting they are wrong is quite irrelevant to whether or not they are right on a particular topic.

February 6, 2014 at 12:53 pm

Libbysays:

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I guess you don’t support Agent, then. All he does is ad hominem debating. Discrediting a source instead of citing his own source. Attacking someone’s character as a way to argue their point. All typical tactics used by Agent. I don’t find Ron doing that.

February 6, 2014 at 3:22 pm

bobsays:

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Libby:

I agree with Agent’s points on some measures, though they are often improperly backed up. That doesn’t make them wrong. All too often you tell Agent he’s wrong because he mis-quoted a source.

As a side comment: I often see you guys discredit the source not the methodology as well. And that’s not a form of ad hominem debate. Ad hominem implies a level of attack that brings focus off of the debate itself. Sources and their validity are quite related to the debate.

While saying a source isn’t reliable isn’t a good method of debate, it certainly isn’t a form of ad hominem.

February 6, 2014 at 4:29 pm

Libbysays:

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According to Websters dictionary it is.

February 6, 2014 at 5:26 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

You clearly don’t have good comprehension skills, I have pasted the definition below, and you will quickly see your error regarding disregarding sources pertains to the fact that discounting the author of a source can be ad hominem, if you discount him for reasons unrelated to the material he is writing, or unrelated to the topic of debate. Discounting a source itself, is not Ad Hominem:

“An ad hominem (Latin for “to the man” or “to the person”[1]), short for argumentum ad hominem, is a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim or argument.[2] Fallacious Ad hominem reasoning is normally categorized as an informal fallacy,[3][4][5] more precisely as a genetic fallacy,[6] a subcategory of fallacies of irrelevance.[7] Ad hominem reasoning is not always fallacious, for example, when it relates to the credibility of statements of fact.

February 6, 2014 at 5:29 pm

FFAsays:

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Libby, not sure what your big words mean, but good job going old school with Webster.

Been slammed all day long. Dont have time to dust off my antiques and I will get to your link agent.

Just been buried not that I realize the PPaca is a bust – sales wise.

February 6, 2014 at 5:30 pm

bobsays:

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To shorten it up Libby:

Look at the Latin words. “to the man”. Discounting your Fox News Article, because the source is inaccurate is not ad hominem. I might add, Agent doesn’t do this as is. When he sarcastically says he can’t trust CNN, he has a counter source with the correct methodology (or what he perceives as correct)

His problem is not with the man who wrote the article. It is with the bias of the article itself, and counter evidence. He doesn’t say “George who wrote that article is just a liar!”

February 6, 2014 at 6:00 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

As I know the only possibility remaining reply that you could make out to say that discounting sources is ad hominem I feel the need to point out:

The source if replaced by “to the man” to be a news station rather than a person:

You would still have the problem that he would have to be discounting the source for a reason unrelated to the topic or the debate. The validity of the source is relevant to the topic or debate, as the phrase says in “short for argumentum ad hominem, is a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected ON THE BASIS of some IRRELEVANT fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim or argument”.

While “ad hominem reasoning is not always fallacious, for example, when it relates to the credibility of statements of fact.” ad hominem is always unrelated to the facts given by an author or a news piece, or must be unrelated if it questions credibility. For example: That author eats toast! Would be unrelated and ad hominem. That author is using the wrong data, or is not a biologist and is operating as such in a biology paper, would not be ad hominem, though you probably would think it was. His biology degree would be related to the validity of his biology report. It has to be unrelated to be an ad hominem attack.

February 7, 2014 at 10:05 am

Libbysays:

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“Abusive ad hominem usually involves attacking the traits of an opponent as a means to invalidate their arguments. Equating someone’s character with the soundness of their argument is a logical fallacy.” – Agent’s M.O.

“Ad hominem circumstantial points out that someone is in circumstances such that they are disposed to take a particular position. Ad hominem circumstantial constitutes an attack on the bias of a source. This is fallacious because a disposition to make a certain argument does not make the argument false; this overlaps with the genetic fallacy (an argument that a claim is incorrect due to its source).” – Agent’s M.O.

These are two examples of Agent’s ad hominum arguing, as he does not respond to an argument with a rebuttal but resorts to the above instead. I know of which I speak.

February 7, 2014 at 12:49 pm

bobsays:

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“ad hominem circumstantial points out that someone is in circumstances such that they are disposed to take a particular position. Ad hominem circumstantial constitutes an attack on the bias of a source”

You mean like you and Planet with Fox News? Assuming you believe what you’re saying, pot, meet kettle. How’s it feel?

Moving on: While Agent says that CNN is biased, as I already pointed out:

When he says that, you haven’t presented a CNN link for him to read half the time, and the other half the time, while he says that they are biased, that is not his argument as to why they are wrong.

His point to why they are wrong are that the facts in your article them self are wrong. While he believes the facts in his article are right.

Also: No. You don’t know that of which you speak, or you would know you’re doing it.

February 7, 2014 at 2:01 pm

Libbysays:

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Yes, like I do with FoxNews when I “suggest” that is where Agent gets his news. He doesn’t argue the merits of the points in the articles I post because he doesn’t read the articles I post. He responds in one of two ways:

1. Discredits the source, but not the content of the source.
2. Discredits my citing of the source because he assumes it will be anti-Agent.

That is not debating in any way, shape or form. My debating skills may not be masterful, but at least I argue the point, cite sources, and provide data. Agent does none of that.

February 5, 2014 at 6:17 pm

Agentsays:

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FFA, you say Ron and I agree on more than we disagree. Ron has a very bad habit of starting a post by agreeing and then spending the second half of the post disagreeing. He just can’t leave well enough alone. First part Conservative, last part Progressive. That comes with his admission that he is a two faced Independent. They can never make up their mind who to vote for until the day of an election so both parties keep pandering to them. It is infuriating and they know it. I am looking forward to the day where he agrees with me and says good comment. I am not holding my breath for that so we will continue to agree to disagree.

You started by saying, “Ron has a very bad habit of starting a post by agreeing…”, then you ended with, “I am looking forward to the day where he agrees with me and says good comment.” Have you ever seen me just post “I agree with, good comment” to anyone? Why should you be so special? Are you really that insecure and needy?

I believe it is important to constantly challenger each other in a respectful way. Since Bob is not capable of doing that, I have refrained from responding to his posts. He can think anything else that he wants.

Feel free to consider my thought to every post that you make to which I do not reply, “I agree with you, good comment”. Does that make you feel better?

The reason that happens is because nobody is 100% right all of the time, including me. The difference between you and me is that I respond to your total post, not just one line. I do agree with lot of what you say, but disagree with some also.

I does not bother me that you call me two-faced in the context to which I made that statement. At least I am not a blind lemming who votes for a letter instead of the best person for the job.

If I believe a politician was just pandering for my vote and did not fulfill his/her promises within reason, they will not get my vote upon re-election.

Question: if you had to choose between an incumbent RINO and Democratic challenger, for whom would you vote?

Debate leads to compromise. Compromise gets things done. Not happening with oBama in charge. something we can all agree on.

February 6, 2014 at 12:16 pm

Agentsays:

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Ron, you wouldn’t get so many dislikes if you didn’t post the opposite every single time. Either you agree with something or you don’t. Be consistent and at least we will know where you are coming from. We don’t care much for Planet and Libby’s remarks and know they are from the left, but don’t give us your agreement with Conservative opinion and then turn around in the next sentence agreement with liberal positions. That is what two faced people do.

February 6, 2014 at 1:31 pm

Libbysays:

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That’s your problem, Agent. You’re either with me or agin me attitude. Nobody is totally with or against a person, only a belief or ideal. I am in total agreement with you on many points. But I am in disagreement with you on others. You are either too stubborn or pig-headed to realize there is no black and white in this world. But you keep trying to label people and put them in a nice tidy box of your choosing. Not a very insightful or mature attitude.

February 6, 2014 at 3:33 pm

bobsays:

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Ron,

My comments are more direct than yours, but far more respectful. I reply to your insults, and punch you in the face. It is perfectly a normal reaction.

You are insane by the way, see the following two comments, and how they contradict?

“I believe it is important to constantly challenger each other in a respectful way. Since Bob is not capable of doing that, I have refrained from responding to his posts. He can think anything else that he wants.”

” At least I am not a blind lemming who votes for a letter instead of the best person for the job”

February 6, 2014 at 3:35 pm

bobsays:

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Ron,

You’ve also called Agent a troll, and pointed out his insults.

So the question: You reply to him and not me….

Because?

Well, because I cut you off at the heels and make you out to be stupid, and I actually pull it off. Whereas agent you feel you can turn it around and make him a troll.

You are not some godly guy by comparison to me, and your refusal to talk with me in a non condescending manner shows it Ron.

You are still stuck in that thinking you’re special age…Might want to reflect on that.

February 6, 2014 at 3:46 pm

bobsays:

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Ron,

Sorry to comment a third time but:

“” At least I am not a blind lemming who votes for a letter instead of the best person for the job””

You don’t vote for the best person for the job. You said yourself, your strategy is to “vote out the incumbents” to show outrage, even when the guys replacing them are putting in place a system you don’t approve of (the ACA). You don’t vote for policies.

I vote republican, as well as Agent, because of a couple reasons, one is actually similar to you.

1. The democrats dominated the house and senate for over 40 years. They are arrogant, and after both the depression and the great recession pegged it on low tax rates and deregulation. They have far too much power and must be shown that power needs to go.

2. Right now, republicans are just better. They have been the minority long enough, and under the magnifying glass that they are far less likely to get away with anything. At all.

3. Related to number 1, Herbert Hoover’s first action was to increase minimum wage, when businesses were starting to go belly up. This is widely considered to be the nail in the coffin. Now, our solution to this economic slump? Increase minimum wage while by passing the other branches of congress…Beautiful.

4. Democrats are worse on debt. 1995-2006 congress or republicans (the first in over 40 years) suddenly had surpluses (the first in nearly the same time frame, coincidence?). Also, in ignorance, independents like you actually think Bush W was worse on debt (average $250 billion per year, since only the last was bad) and think Obama cut the deficit while maintaining 1 trillion dollar deficits. Something that you have tried to maintain by providing me a link again and again showing percentage increases, which show the Bush W to Obama the increase was low. But the increase being low doesn’t matter. The one year was a fluke year. We should be comparing normal spending. Not flukes. We can’t have deficit averages go up by 4 times in 2 years from the norm. That isn’t decrease.

5. Democrats seek to make an enemy of churches. Not ok. Faith is the most important part of life and is the only reason many people don’t go insane. Deny this all you want, it’s just bluntly true. When people don’t feel purpose to life, and doing good, they only look out for themselves. While I consider myself agnostic, the path that democrats are going on will lead to a war (to what degree I do not know) between classes of people (religions vs non religious, rich vs poor, women vs men)

February 6, 2014 at 5:00 pm

Libbysays:

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FYI, Bob. A “troll” when referenced in connection with a blog is someone that posts an incendiary comment just to stir the pot. It doesn’t mean your normal connotation of troll.

February 6, 2014 at 5:32 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

I’m aware of what a troll is. Agent was by Ron’s own words, a Troll who was also stating insulting comments to Ron.

And Ron is replying to a troll, who insults him, with insults, such as that ““” At least I am not a blind lemming who votes for a letter instead of the best person for the job””. That is not any different than saying “you’re an idiot”. You may see it as such, but it isn’t. I cut straight to, “you’re an idiot”.

Ron, meet kettle.

February 6, 2014 at 5:43 pm

Agentsays:

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Ron, I, too vote for the best person for the job. The problem I have is I can’t find a Democrat worthy of voting for. I am going to vote for Stockman against John Cornyn for Senate this time because Cornyn has been up there too long and is not nearly Conservative enough to suit me. We already got rid of Kay Bailey Hutchison who was also up there too long and had outlived her usefulness as a Senator. I used to write her on Congress.org and would get a form letter back on a completely different subject to the question I asked about. I gave up and just voted against her. She thought she could unseat Perry in the primaries a few years ago and Texans voted for Perry 3-1. I guess she is now just enjoying her Senate retirement package and has faded away. Tell me, with your vast knowledge of the internet, can you provide any Conservative Democrats worth voting for? I would imagine the list is very slim and actually there may be none at all.

February 6, 2014 at 5:43 pm

bobsays:

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Ah libby your problem was with that I said he makes Agent a troll.

You misinterpreted what I mean. He “makes him out” to be a troll.

He enjoys the attempt of making someone else to look stupid or a troll, but as I said, he can’t quite do the same to me. I don’t allow him to escape from the argument, and I insult him at the same time for doing so.

Yes, I look bad doing it. But he never gets away from the facts in our arguments by saying I’m a troll, like he can do with Agent, and like you pull off with agent in similar methods (such as, that his mentality of with us and against us is why he can’t talk with you. That again is the same thing, ad hominem. Since he’s with us or against us his facts must not be relevant. I don’t tolerate such attacks)

February 7, 2014 at 9:51 am

Libbysays:

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What facts? Agent doesn’t state facts. He states opinion and rhetoric. It is he that is famous for the “lemming” comments and Ron was only responding in kind with Agent’s own vernacular.

And calling Agent a troll is just stating a fact. It has nothing to do with debate or argument.

It’s interesting Agent that when talking about voting, you always refer to the primaries and not the election. If, as you say, Cornyn has been up there too long, would you vote for a conservative Democrat in the election? Yes or no, please.

February 7, 2014 at 12:52 pm

bobsays:

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Libby,

Did you notice the [6] [7] in my post regarding Ad Hominem?

It was from wikipedia. Swing and a miss on that one!

Anywho: The wikipedia link makes no mention of the section you mentioned earlier regarding sources, and I know for a fact you didn’t look that up before our convo. You didn’t know what you were saying when you said it.

Get over the superiority complex.

February 7, 2014 at 1:43 pm

Libbysays:

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Oh, but you would be so wrong Bob. I DID look it up before our “convo” because I have learned my lesson about shooting from the hip.

Libby, I will ask you like I asked Ron, provide a list of Conservative Democrats I could consider voting for. The Blue Dogs are already gone. There are no Conservative Democrats in my state that are running. Whoever emerges from the Republican primary between Cornyn & Stockman will have my vote because there are no good Conservative Democrats here and I see none on the national stage as well. Even a semi RINO like Cornyn is 100% better than any Democrat I see. Poor Bob has to put up with the likes of Patty Murray in Washington state. I wish she had a strong challenger to her seat, but I am not sure she is up yet for re-election.

February 7, 2014 at 11:20 am

Libbysays:

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Just as I suspected. You vote for the “R” and not the platform. Now who’s a lemming?

February 4, 2014 at 3:40 pm

FFAsays:

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In 50+ years of my life time, I have yet to hear or encounter the Govt being efficient.

FFA, Just saw a new article posted on Town Hall by Guy Benson. Remember when the Congressional Budget Office (Non-Partisan) determined back in 2011 that Obamacare would cost the US Economy 800,000 jobs. Democrats screamed and Nancy Pelosi said the law would create 4 million jobs with 400,000 almost immediately. Boy is she smart or what! The CBO has now revised their figures and now project the law will reduce the number of full time jobs by more than 2 million in the coming years. The full impact will be starting in 2016. The official numbers indicate that workers will simply leave the workforce. The participation rate is already at a 36 year low. The Democrats sunny expectations were only off by about 6 million jobs – in the wrong direction. Even Chuck Todd of NBC said it reinforced Republicans warnings about the law from day one. Remember when Democrats touted a price tag for Obamacare of $900 Billion over 10 years? It is now expected to be $2 Trillion with a T and employment will drop by 2 million due to cuts by employers and so many people dropping out of the workforce. This is a disaster of biblical proportions and no amount of spin by the left will be adequate to justify their position.

Nice copy and paste. Seems like you could be spending more time with business development or staff development rather than spending your time at a rub and tug with your tablet reposting things from the Joe the Plumber Blog.

Well, my mail arrives consistently, no matter the weather. I was notified my UPS shipment is delayed today due to the storm in KC, but I guarantee I get my mail. To send a letter to anywhere in the nation is cheap, too. I also find our National Parks are well kept. And, the interstate system is a plus. My federal student loans worked well. Those are just a few.

I got my mail today – late. Interstates are currently a mess. Amount of snow has become a problem here. Lack of salt is also becoming a problem. I see trucks running by every day carting it out west somewhere. They should just dump it in the river. Maybe there is a reason for not doing that. I dont know. Stamp just went up in cost again. I do a lot of direct mail. Cant comment on National Parks. Dont go to them. I went private for student loans and the IDAP took them over. Been off my books for 20 years. Dont know how they work today.

You are very fortunate living in Des Moines. Ride the wave to prosperity. Become what people hate – a 1%. You in the right place at the right time.

Hey Planet, the USPS is so efficient that if I mail a letter across town, it has to go to an out of state processing center and come back at great expense in traveling cost and time. It is dark every day of the week when our mail arrives and we often get other peoples mail a street away. I ordered something on Amazon a few weeks ago, got email notifying me when UPS would deliver and lo and behold, it arrived exactly when promised. Of course, I don’t live on the frozen tundra so I suppose they have had some problems up there. You should get off their back. They are 10 times better at delivery than USPS ever was.

Does the VA count? I took my dad to his last few VA doctor appointments. He gets called back to the exam room before I finish his registration. The first time I took him, the doctor entered the room in less than 10 minutes (only a couple of minutes after the nurse finished her part) and spent well over 30 minutes with us. (I’m in the process of getting my dad admitted to veteran’s nursing home.)

My dad was in a VA nursing home before he passed. It had just been renovated and it was beautiful. He had his own private room and the nurses gave him lots of attention (Dad could be a charmer!) But I know there are also VA horror stories, so I guess it just depends on which VA you go to.

No FFA. The website is somewhere north of $1 Billion and it still doesn’t work right. The plan was sold on $90 Billion a year for 10 years. Somehow, the math doesn’t add up right. Must be that Common Core Curriculum they are selling in the public schools now. Then again, Progressives have never been concerned with cost or numbers.

FFA, if you don’t have time to go to Town Hall, http://www.foxnews.com has all the story now on the grim forecast form CBO for Obamacare and the jobs that will be lost as a result. This is the mother of all disasters the government has ever done.

No, if there were a blue dress large enough to fit Christie, I would not want to see it under a black light after what he’s going to have to do to atone for what he’s done. Can’t wait for the rest of the story to unfold. But we’ll keep talking about the past to try to sweep it under the rug.

February 5, 2014 at 10:40 am

FFAsays:

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I also look forward to the day when oBama cant hide behind executive privilege and Fitzgerald get to question him regarding pay to play in IL….

Given the fact he would not talk on day one tells me he is hiding something….

I cant provide that for you – Numbers & Cost. I do know that many of my former customers that folded were govt funded – Medicare Medicaid. They folded because they were not getting paid for their services. Adds to the Unemployment problem in IL and probably on a national basis.

IF Congress / Pres – whomever stopped raiding the funds, I may be swayed in that direction.

In England, they pay a huge price for gas. Thats how they are funded. There is extensive wait times for procedures. Whom ever has Private Insurance get to be seen first as the provider knows they will be paid in a timely manner and not bartered down on the charges.

there is a poster in here named Waterbug. Probably the best insight due to his/her personal experience. Sarge may also be helpful as he lives further north – closer to the Canadian Border. Many people jump the border to get better health care and eliminate the wait time to see the professionals.
at any level.

In my opinion, part of the success stories in England are the way they manage Tort. With out Tort Reform, there is no reform, just another set of hoops to jump threw. More Hoops. More Expense. Especially of its the Govt

From my experience with the govt in my life time, they will make a bigger mess of things then already exists.

Meet someone that works at Wrigley Field staffing the Owner Box.
Some of the things she has over heard – the signage issue – the permits – all the hoops to go through for Chicago, started frustrating the Rickets to the point they started to explore other options. That talk has calmed down a bit and Rahm is starting to work with them instead of trying to pry every nickle out of them he can. The sign is going to be a big issue. Seems either Rahm approves – maybe the courts step in – or Rosemeont – here they come. Chicago losing the cubs would be devastating to that local economy. She also stated that – from what she has over heard between Rickets and Theo, the Cubs will be a force in about two more years. This year will be more of the same – season over by april 15th.

I must have missed Ron’s “argument against a single payor.” Please enlighten me.

However, I will note after my last post that instead of actually responding, you all decided to pick on the President…oh yeah, the best defense is a good offense. But that wasn’t the issue I was trying to make.

As for your personal anecdotal evidence of government incompetence, I could give you just as many, just as stupid, and just as aggravating from private for profit concerns that supposedly have a stake in trying to please the customer.

Pardon me for attempting to state that we need a real dialogue here on some of these issues “from men of good will.” Obviously not you, Agent, or you, FFA. You’d rather take your cheap shoots then actually try to come to any kind of accord…

You know what Cassandra. I was criticized by Ron and others for misspelling “payer” and called it “payor” one time. I wonder if they will criticize you for doing the same thing. I will say I don’t get confused about the difference between Medicaid and Medicare. My guess is that they will give you a pass since you are like minded. Way to go with the mean spirited attack on 30y.o. You are a cheap shot artist just like Libby.

Cas, I asked the burning question for any evidence that the govt operates efficiently. He replied that I should not hold my breath.

Only cheap shots I take are directed at OBama and my Gov.

In the private sector, there is recourse for incompetence. There is none in the Govt. I have much more IRS crap, them telling me I didnt pay when I have already sent them cancelled checks & confirmations from the EFTPS. Same crap going on with ILDR. What recourse do I have for being picked on?

I do agree with things that people say on either side of the fence. I also disagree.

One thing I know for sure, obama is bad for the country. OBama Care is a job killer. Want evidence, what does he do with our tax dollars you and I pay? Send them to Egypt and then has the air force flying recon for alquida in Syria. I recall Planet, Libby and Ron all speaking against that somewhere along the line. Want evidence on the job killer? See Home Depot. Lowes is following. Golden Corral. Walgreens and the list goes on and on and on.

Aside from the pres and my gov, whom have I taken a cheap shot at? No points out my spelling erros simply because, I know I am not the best typist in the world. I openly admit being a pig too… I love women!

As of late, maybe. Wife is on the PLUP list. In a round about way, my wife gave me the green light to go elsewhere. Not gonna happen. I dont cheat.

February 7, 2014 at 12:03 pm

Libbysays:

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What’s the PLUP list?

February 7, 2014 at 1:11 pm

FFAsays:

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Physically Unable To Perform. Its a foot ball term. refers to a temporary injury. They get some sort of roster exemption so they can field a full team.

February 5, 2014 at 11:32 am

FFAsays:

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well, just laid off my service rep. Buried in IRS & IDR bull shit bills. I have proof I paid them on time and they are insisting I did not. Provided them proof and still get their bull shit letters that I need to respond to. Too bad they wont leave me alone to run my business and keep people employed. Its consuming too much of my time. Taking away my pursuit of new biz. Bumming me out.

Ron & FFA, I encourage you to go onto townhall.com today and read and listen to the video shown on it. The title is Obamacare Dismantled in less than 5 minutes. It has all the President’s promises/lies and then the real world consequences of how it has devastated families. It is the best video I have seen to date.

Sorry about your employment decision FFA. I know you have struggled in one of the worst business environments in the country. If the Feds don’t do a number on you, the state of Illinois will apparently. I don’t know how businesses survive up there. According to your posts, many don’t and either sell out or move out to friendlier states. One of the worst phone calls a man has to make is to the IRS and talking to a bureaucrat who could care less and does not do their job. I think it took me three tries and my CPA twice to get a simple FEIN change made and it took 6 months to get it squared away. They are the worst of the government agencies if you don’t take EPA into account.

I knew you couldn’t Planet. That is what Progressive trolls do. You and boogereater are from the same mold. He finds it necessary to rag on FFA for three posts and calling him a bad businessman for trying to sell Obamacare and not having enough capital to survive Illinois. I think FFA has done well considering where he is and what he has put up with. My operating expenses are minimal compared to what he has.

I think Boogereater is in an entire class by himself.
I dont have problems with people challenging my decisions. Make me think things through.
Its her foul mouth method I take issue with. I notice he has disappeared since his use of that word.

i dont hesitate calling people out when that word gets used.

February 7, 2014 at 11:42 am

Agentsays:

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FFA, I recall you trying to reason with boogereater and listing your vehicles as used Dodge Caravans. I saw an article the other day in another insurance site that listed manufacturers recalls. Chrysler led the pack by a wide margin followed by GM, both of which got bailed out to save the union jobs. One recall I saw was on Dodge Caravans of recent year model was on airbags. It seems that they were installed backward so if the driver had an accident, it would blow out the dash. Hmm! I guess thos pot smokers/drinker workers they caught recently in the parking lot may have installed all those airbags. Way to go Chrysler.

February 5, 2014 at 11:38 am

txmouthbreatherboogereatertxsays:

Hot debate. What do you think?

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Horrible news for this service rep. Getting laid off is never a good thing to go through but hopefully it will work out in the end for them. Sounds like poor business planning and a lack of retaining adequate capital on the business owner’s part.

The worst business decision of the year was to pay 4 people to train for OBama Care. I should have known that when Obama stated that agents could sell this, it was just another lie. Not to mention the expense I bit of for advertising that I, a local agent can help people with this.

Just another lie out of Obamas mouth. Should have stayed the course with the P & C side. If not for that, I could have probably rode out the storm that is the first quarter.

Gotta take personal responsibility for failed business ventures, that is what the free market used to be all about. In the words of our savior Lord Pope Ron Reagan, “Personal Responsibility, Personal Responsibility, Personal Responsibility”. Contact your account, tell him to clean out your accounts, call your travel agent and get a one way trip to the Cayman’s. Uncle Mitt will meet you there with a pair of magic underwear. Things will work out, Joe the Plumber works pretty quick I hear.

The buck is still being passed. You keep blaming Obama for your failure. Let’s revise your statement.

“Thought it was pretty clear that is was my descision to go in that direction. Buck stops here. It was my fault and my fault alone. Obama is not the one that made me sell these insurance products. I should have stayed the course with the other mandated insurance products that I sell called P&C. I know if I don’t move to the Cayman Islands, there is at least Texico.

February 7, 2014 at 11:05 am

KY jwsays:

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The only fault of FFA’s is believing the agenda of lies given to him. He made a decision and it didn’t work, but he was operating behind the 8 ball and had absolutely no chance at success. Therefore, I’m going to tell you to step off txmouthbreatherboogereatertx, you are out of line.

IF the idiots running this PPACA crap had been honest and not encouraged insurance agents to try selling health insurance through the exchanges, FFA would have been able to make an INFORMED decision. The best decision for his agency and potential employees.

February 7, 2014 at 11:47 am

Agentsays:

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Good post Kyjw. I agree with you 100% on you coming down on boogereater for his relentless assault on FFA who is a good agent trying to do the best he could for his clients. He doesn’t deserve the abuse he has received. See, I can praise without reversing my position like Ron does on every post.

February 7, 2014 at 1:25 pm

KY jwsays:

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LOL

February 5, 2014 at 2:07 pm

FFAsays:

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All your doing is restating the obvious. yes. It was my fault for believing what I was told. No obama was not the one that made me sell these products. He certainly is responsible for me not being able to sell the products. He did hire his wife pal – a non american company – to build the web site and send how many millions out of the country.

IT IS MY FAULT I WENT IN THAT DIRECTION. I am sure you will find 20 other ways to say the same thing. That being said, he is still a liar.

Do you ever have a point to make?

Its funny you mention the Cayman Islands.. My buddy stopped in and stated the exact same thing you did. Time to retire down there.

FFA, I thought when I saw you going Gung Ho on Obamacare that it would end badly and each post you made about the problems associated with it made me wish you had stuck to P&C. You were lied to repeatedly by the President and his minions. They lied to the whole nation and told us how wonderful it was all going to be. If you like your plan, you can keep it, PERIOD! Shopping for Healthcare will be as easy as going onto Amazon.com. The list is endless. I admit to being a skeptical Conservative and never believed this was going to work and would be a travesty so I resolved to concentrate on my P&C and let others take the risk. I have a fellow agent friend who was heavily involved in Individual & Group. He has been tearing his hair out for some time and is losing accounts. He still has a substantial amount of P&C on the books so he will survive, but his total agency volume will be about half when the dust settles.

Yea. My buddy up the road that stopped in today is in the same situation. Was heavy into health and is just watching it drop off his book. He was never a big P&C guy, but he is drowning. His BCBS is down on average about $1500 @ month. He told me he just found out his biggest group is going too. I am glad I am diversified. I am about 50/50 personal lines / commercial. Was hoping to get some more diversification. If the Contractor world ever went south, I would be in a world of hurt. I was hurt badly when the NFPs went south.

My regional carrier just opened up Commercial Building Contractors. Very excited about that. Got a friend from WI in that line. He tells me his Monthly is over $10,000. He is in Surplus world. I know that I am gonna smoke that.

So, past is past. Cant let history dog me. Got to keep moving. Mortgage company dont want to hear about my miss fire. Its happened before. It will happen again.

Just like Bush & Regan, they are history. Cant wait to see Rauner in the gov mansion next year.

At the time I invested the money and time, the full scope of the lies had yet to be determined.
Had a bad feeling the day I made the decision.
Now, I am back on track with the P&C side and feeling relieved.

FFA, being in business is a tough deal and owners like you and I have to wear a lot of hats and make decisions and hope you are right. I have gambled on hiring producers on several occasions in the past because we thought we could train them to bring business in and grow. I have a bad taste in my mouth about what transpired. These young guys don’t want to put the effort out like I was as a young producer. They now want a book of business, salary against commission, benefits and thought the business would just magically come through the door. I lost a lot of money on a couple of them and finally had to cut the chord. They should have worked for a company for a salary instead of the agency ranks where you have to sell to make it.

Sometimes you just have to restate the obvious in hopes that the partisan fart cloud in one’s face will dissipate sooner than later. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work that way but we keep trying. Kind of like the number of attempts the Rebulicunts have made to shut this thing down. It is the law of the land, if and if they were smart, they would realize the income potential they could have. From creating the website, to insurance sales, the money grab that continuing education is, and all those jobs the “job creators” could make. The problem is, daddy and pee-paw didn’t leave them a business to run and God only knows they don’t have the ingenuity required to create ideas, plan, develop, and manage. What they do know how to do is run business into the ground. Laws and regulation can suck, but they are the clean up process of the messes made by private business as they make record profits with out accountability. Is government efficient? NO, but that includes the military with all the government contracts paid out to private contractors as well as the extra time certain married generals to bang other chicks while a war is going on.

While use of the “c” word may certainly be offensive, do you argue with his statement:

“Laws and regulation can suck, but they are the clean up process of the messes made by private business as they make record profits with out accountability. Is government efficient? NO, but that includes the military with all the government contracts paid out to private contractors.”

As well as his statement that true job creators, or entrepeneuers, could work with the government law of the land and figure out a way to make money. That’s what FFA did, but it didn’t work out for him as yet. I was one of those people that urged him on because I DO see opportunity with this change. With change comes pain, but also opportunity.

Wouldn’t you rather write a Commercial Package & Auto & Umbrella for a total of $25,000 premium with commission in the range of $3,500-$4,000? I know that is a one time shot and not monthly, but it is sure nice when it comes in on a Direct Bill statement and it is a whole lot less trouble. On many of my commercial accounts, I also pick up the Personal Lines for more premium and the occasional Life policy.

Yes I would. I am in project mode right now. Working a package with a $30,000 Comp Premium. Professional / General/property & NAO gonna push this into the $50,ooo range if not more. This one has been time consuming… Gonna be surplus, so write it today, get paid today thing.

Between my last post and this post, just connected with another General Contractor for the full package.

One of my former captive pals just sent me completed apps on a Commercial Builder. Quick look see, should also be about $50,000. Thats gonna be surplus too.

Back to what works.

February 7, 2014 at 5:18 pm

FFAsays:

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I may have let my rep go prematurely… Hammering out these apps is getting time consuming and mind boggeling. She may be getting a call back sooner then I expected.

February 7, 2014 at 1:30 pm

KY jwsays:

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I don’t know if we are in the clean up process or the throw it against the wall and see if it sticks process.

Also, entrepeneuers can only work with the government if the government is transparent (rules are known). We do not have transparency at this time.

FFA, A very good CSR that knows the ropes, proficient in the computer and operating system can really provide relief from the app mess and get the quotes out so you can sell. I have one that I would put up against any CSR in the country. She is dynamite and very well remunerated for her efforts. She has written a fair amount of business herself on stuff she has developed and we pay her commission on it. She has made my life a lot easier.

Well, KY, the clean-up process booger cites is in regards to messes made by private industry with no accountability. I agree with that. That is the reason we need regulations, because corporations (people) can not be trusted to do the right thing on their own.

And my comment was about working with the law, not the government. I’m confident there are smart people out there that will come up with ways to make money in spite of this law. It just means changing things up, which is hard and painful. But I do hope you agree that what we were doing before wasn’t working with so many people without means to pay for healthcare. The ACA may be a train wreck, but even a train wreck can be an opportunity for change and growth.

I think things are going to get a lot worse then better. My personal experience, more Pre X Crowd then you healthy people. Even the young I have put on has pre x to deal with.

In my agent total bottom line, there is not enough premiums coming in to pay the claims coming in.

On an odd side note, I used to shy away from Health Ins as I hated digging into all them questions. Felt like I was invading privacy. If there was something wrong, I didnt want to know. Now these people just start rifling off everything wrong with them.

FFA, I thought the only semi health question asked is whether they smoke or not. When I looked at the app, that was all I could see. Most of the questions had to do with income, wanting bank account info, credit card for payment etc. Obama doesn’t want to know if the applicant has Cancer, High Blood Pressure or any other disease, just what do they make. Does that sound like underwriting to you? No wonder the PreX’s are lining up for coverage.

February 7, 2014 at 5:17 pm

FFAsays:

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That is correct…

February 7, 2014 at 6:23 pm

FFAsays:

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They also ask if your pregnant…

February 5, 2014 at 3:54 pm

FFAsays:

Well-loved. Like or Dislike:

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i ask again, do you ever have a point to make? I know you have a hard time with straight forward ENGLISH. Is there some other language you know?

FFA, you are going to have to ignore boogereater since he continues to rag on you. Just down thumb him and go on about your business. He just wants to get a rise out of you since he is a Progressive troll. Eventually, when you don’t respond and I don’t intend to respond to him, maybe he will go to Moveon.org and troll over there.

Well agent, not really worth the effort. Let the whole forum see him for what she is…

February 7, 2014 at 7:51 am

Ronsays:

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Agent,

Do you approve of bob’s foul mouth? If you do, regardless of any justification, it shows a lack of character.

February 7, 2014 at 11:10 am

Agentsays:

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Ron, let me go on record as saying I don’t approve of foul language, cussing etc from any of the bloggers to try to make a point. Boogereater is at the very bottom of the list, I think even you may agree. Bob’s frustration with you leads to some angry comments because your brain can’t assimilate his info and proof. He frustrates you because you can’t beat him in an argument and your bogus websites and quoting leftists set him off and you refuse to debate him after a while. So be it.

February 7, 2014 at 1:51 pm

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Agent,

You just did what you criticize me for doing. You went from, “let me go on record as saying I don’t approve of foul language, cussing etc from any of the bloggers to try to make a point.”, to justifying bob’s foul language. And you criticize me for not taking a stand. You want to show some character? Tell bob to quit using foul language. Or are you just his little buddy?

I put bob at the bottom based on volume of profanities.

I will say this again and again, the ONLY reason I no longer debate Bob is due to his disrespectful, profanity-laced posts. His only rebuttals to me are to question methodology, not presenting different data or facts. It is all interpretation for him, not results. It is impossible to win a debate against someone like that regardless of how right you are. He is a bully, no more, no less.

I am sure he will give a 15 page dissertation and how he hands me ny head and that I cannot debate him. He can think that until his death bed. It does not change the truth.

February 7, 2014 at 4:11 pm

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Well FFA, I don’t think boogereater is a she unless she was converted from a he.

February 7, 2014 at 4:54 pm

Libbysays:

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Yeah, most women wouldn’t use the “c” word…

February 7, 2014 at 6:33 pm

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Well Libby, I have heard it more out of women in the past two/three years then out of men. In this very forum even.

Last time I hear a man use it was when I had to toss him out of the bowling league. Thats been 5 years.

Ron, I deal in the contractors market pretty heavily. So, normal swearing and cussing is part of mt daily life. Wife can always tell when I had a Contractor Day cause I come home and she needs to wash my mouth out… Got so bad with the F word at one point in time. she put Dish Soap in a squirt gun. One miss in my eye was all it took…

February 5, 2014 at 4:23 pm

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For the record, I have had dealings with the IRS on three occasions…all different issues. ALL were solved courteously and correctly by IRS staff. Maybe if you talked nicely? You know, that old saying you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar…

IRS has had reductions in funding caused by Widow’s Peak Ryan and his Tea Party minions. Remember that, when you complain. I have spent equally long times holding on the phone for govt agencies and private corporations. I have had enough things cocked up by US corps that outsource our customer service to the Philippines and India…or wherever else they can get by on the cheap. Ultimately, I had to get a good old US citizen to straighten out the issues involved.

Medicare and SS IS efficient. Part of the reason costs increase are due to all the “private” businesses frauding, cheating, and gaming the system…AND ALSO, our idiotic tort system (yeah, GOPers, I DO agree on that with you). Capitalism at its best. I would rather deal with the govt personnel than some little self important chippie at the other end of my health care call. Talk about caring less….

In any event, we continue to have socialism for the rich and big business, the way I see it. This will continue until citizens take back their govt by limiting access by lobbyists.

As for giving our money to Egypt…how about the Halliburton overcharges for services in Iraq? Is that OK because the money went to a private concern? Cost over runs? Why don’t you look to the corporations thatn are bilking the American taxpayer while overpaying their CEOs and stashing dollars offshore? How come that doesn’t aggravate you?

Well Ron, I have followed your exchanges with Bob on several blogs. After you go back in forth on an issue about three times and he sees you don’t “get it” and you keep on with your bogus posts, he has had enough of you and let’s you have it between the eyes. You don’t like that much and start complaining about his language. Bob is Bob and he will hand you your head on facts and methods of analysis every time. If he uses salty language, you brought it on yourself with your goofy posts. Being a Two Faced Independent is a hard life, isn’t it? Get over it. Do you think boogereater is a legitimate poster or do you agree with him and his disgraceful language?

Libby, you and Ron bring on Bob’s comments and language your self since you fail to see the light. Boogereater is nothing but a bottom feeder just like a lot of other Progressive trolls on this site. Bob, at least makes an attempt to show the information to you before you tick him off. I am afraid you and Ron have poisoned the well with your comments so now he doesn’t bother to make nice with you.

Agent – you call Ron two-faced, but you are the two-faced one in this instance. You say we bring on Bob’s “salty” language and deserve it, but if we use the same type of language you rip us a new one. Take your mealy-mouthed hypocrisy and shove it.

As for Bob, we have both cordial and uncordial correspondence. Just depends on the day.

Libby, had you been paying attention to Ron’s posts, he called himself “two faced” because he is supposedly an Independent. All I did was reiterate it because he does it just about on every post. Are you including boogereater as “us” when we rip you a new one? You should be mad at boogereater for calling FFA a bad businessman for trying to help people with Healthcare. Boogereater posted at least 3 sorry emails ragging on him. I thought you were semi friends with FFA. Your attitude discounts that altogether.

February 10, 2014 at 1:35 pm

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I don’t agree with all of txboogereatertx’s posts, but that does not mean I am mad at him. That’s whay you do. If someone disagrees with you on ONE point, then you just rag on them for everything. You thumb me down without even reading what I post. That’s immature.

And I do consider FFA a friend of mine, along with some others on this site.

February 5, 2014 at 4:41 pm

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“until citizens take back their govt by limiting access by lobbyists”
YEP.

I have stopped writing for Travelers because they continue to post record profits and do nothing for their insureds but push up deductibles and pound down commissions to agents.

When I get someone over seas, I specifically ask for someone in America. Something needs to done about the exporting of jobs. Obamas agenda? Immigration. Gay Marriage.

I have had several Commercial Policies funded by Medicar & Medicaid fold because they dont pay their bills. My personal experience with both have been horrible. My former clients, worse.

Sending any money out of the country – as I have stated many time – irritates the hell out of me. I am all for bringing our boys home and lining the borders shoulder to shoulder to keep the illegals out.

Speaking of Travelers FFA, we were supposed to be rolling out Quantum 2.0 on the Auto because they were trumpeting how they were going to get competitive and stop the exodus of policyholders that were complaining about their rates. They were supposed to have a webinar for my CSR’s and the day before it was to be shown, they sent an email and said it was postponed indefinitely and they would be back in touch. It seems they didn’t have their filings done with the state yet. Have they done the 2.0 in Illinois yet? Supposedly, they rolled it out in other states as a test before trying it in Texas. If you have it, is it competitive or not? Travelers is one of my more dysfunctional carriers and their volume has shrunk about a third in the past 3 years. Safeco, on the other hand has gone great guns and we will have a record contingency with them this year. I am looking forward to it.

Yes they have. Auto rates never been the problem here. Its the home side of the PL equation. Sold one mono line auto in December. Their home RC is out of this world higher then the competitors. Their $1500 Mandatory ded. Its been so long, I dont even know who my underwriter is with them any more.

I missed Contingency by 2.14%% points on the loss ratio. $200000 more in premium or $11,000 less in losses is where things landed. We did have hail issues. Had a contractor working in NY on Sandy Recovery have two Auto accidents. One with a Grappler Truck. Folded that little Toyota right up. I would dump them, but I need their Commercial side.

I did make Growth Bonus from my regional and I get a life award too. There was substantial growth with the regional – I think it was somewhere in the $500,000 range. Overall volume was way up. Commissions were also up over 36%.

If not for my wife meds bills, I would not be screaming poverty like I do. Close to $11,000 out of pocket and close to $30,000 in health premiums. obama Care did help me out with the premiums and OOP for now, but cost me a good chunk of my BCBS commiss. Probably close to a wash. I am growing Auto & home by informing people of the need for increased Med Pays as most OOP Med Expense have gone up. I am back on the P&C trail.

Pushed in another AARP home & auto today. Them guys are nuts on their replacement cost figures. The gated community discount help out a lot.

it really pisses me off the way Travelers boasts record profits and does nothing for their customers. Name dont mean shit any more in my neck of the woods. Its all about the rate.

FFA, I agree that Travlers Home prices have also sucked. Out of 5 carriers we have, they usually come in 4th or 5th. Couple that with the uncompetitive Auto, you can see how their volume declines with agents. They were competitive back when we appointed several years ago, but they started a decline with rate taking and it has about ruined them with us. We have done better on the Commercial side, especially with their Oil & Gas market, but the Small Business side is not very competitive.

So FFA, Travelers seems to have a problem rolling out their Quantum, but they did send an email on a bulletin that they will be offering a new Roadside Assistance deal for the customer. I just want them to be competitive with other carriers and they send a new perk. Oh well, eventually it will come out in the wash.

FFA, I sent you a good one yesterday from Townhall which you watched and commented on. Another good one appeared on http://www.eaglerising.com on Obama. Click on Obama not the One, he is the False One. It has a video to watch and language is satirical, but it is very true what this man has been doing for the past 5 years. I am sure the libs will criticize this since it is a Conservative site, but facts are facts. It lays it all out about how the people swallowed his lies and promises hook, line and sinker and look what we have to show for it.

Just to get this straight, it is OK for you to criticize my sources whether liberal, centrist, or libertarian, but Heaven help us if someone else criticizes a conservative site.

If you cannot take the criticism, don’t dish it out.

Can you quantify all of the damage President Obama has done? Do you even know what the word quantify means? Hint: It does include the words “look around you”, “open yours eyes”, or “common sense”. I want numbers with a cited source.

I didn’t ask you to reply at all Ron since I was corresponding with FFA. Did you even bother to view this video? I think it laid everything out real well without using a bogus website like you come out with all the time. Your comment proves your Progressive leanings to a T. Bob has been right all along about your childish behavior. You obviously don’t care much for anything with Conservatism in it and prefer to post stories/articles from liberal economists to support your position.

Kyjw, Snowden is now a national hero in Russia since he has given them thousands of US secrets. Putin probably gave him a “Bear Hug” and a dacha to live in for all that good info on the US.

February 6, 2014 at 3:25 pm

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Funny FFA. I wonder at how many athletes will drink the water over there or try to take a shower in their water that looks like it is from Chernobel. This Olympics may be a disaster and I am not talking about terrorists from Chechnya.

everything we see is that the russians are not ready… Dont drink the water or use it on bare skin???

Winter Olympics are my fav in the sports world. Competing for Not a pay check, but the love of the game. Alpine Down Hill has always been on the top of my list. The hockey, even though invaded by the pros, is always fun to watch.

I heard the Russians had the Luge redesigned so the riders cant touch each other…

FFA, I don’t watch many of the events except hockey and downhill skiing or speed skating. The figure skating is so subjective that the scoring always favors the European or Russian skaters and that is a joke. I wish Lindsay Vonn were able to compete, but she blew her knee out and didn’t recover enough to give it a go.

I went to change the channel when the ice dancing came on but my Gr Daughter gave me the puppy eyes. The she stood up clapping after the Russians did their thing and I knew I was stuck watching it all.

There was another Mogoul Skier that blew her ACl out on the practice run before she even got a chance to compete.

February 7, 2014 at 2:12 pm

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I love the ice skating! Must be a girly thing.

February 7, 2014 at 2:47 pm

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My mom is a big fan of the ice dancing too.

February 7, 2014 at 1:04 pm

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So Ron, you are so messed up, you have to post the same thing twice in a row???? That is about as bad as Cassandra mixing up Medicare with Medicaid. You know I am a Friedman fan. I could care less about Ludwig. Fox is going downhill and just hired James Carville as a contributor. I guess they want to keep Obama off their back. I can’t stand him anymore than Alan Colmbs or Juan Williams. My clicker is used very quickly when they come on.

Perhaps you should invest in a new mouse Ron. That’s it, blame IJ for posting your nonsense twice. The other bloggers post thousands of times in a year and they don’t seem to have a problem posting only once per comment. See if you can hit it three times and go for a new record. The answer is yes, you post liberal economic sources all the time, people that run down Capitalism, say that Ronny ruined the economy back in the day, bogus government websites with wrong figures, old info trying to justify your position.

Oh, Agent. You make me laughe. People can say Ronnie ruined the economy and still be for capitalism. If you were a little bit brighter, you would see that Reaganomics has harmed people like you and me. We are/were the middle class. Reaganomics has only helped the 1%. A class we can never hope or dream to be part of.

My disdain for “capitalism” is against BIG business. Corporations that operate without impunity and where greed runs amok. Not for the small businessman. That’s what America was founded on. Hometown boy makes good with his own business. I hope people like that make lots of money. What I don’t want to continue to see is Wall Street crooks laughing all the way to the bank as they steal our money and destroy the economy.

If you’d think logically about it, we are on the same side.

February 6, 2014 at 4:30 pm

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To avoid any Terror attacks the Russians hired the Village People as their head of security.

Libby, the problem with liberals is that they really like to blame someone for their problems in life. Your Blamer in Chief is the biggest example. His solution is to take from the successful and give to others in hopes of re-distributing the wealth and making everyone equally poor. Reaganomics hasn’t harmed you and me, but Obamaonics and Progressive Socialism is doing irreparable harm. Too bad your pea sized brain does not absorb that. You and Ron are two peas in a pod and are so eager to jump into the abyss your Messiah is creating.

So FFA, did you see the latest announcement by Obama as reported on the Fox site? They are going to delay the Employer Mandate for another year on the 50-99 Groups, but the over 100 Groups have to go forward with complying with the law. I wonder what rates are going to do about 6-1. The companies are scratching their head wondering what is next on these unilateral changes to the law. They also have done nothing with the Individual Mandate. Why not suspend the whole thing? It will take that long for them to get a workable website anyway.